First one-stop shop for OFWs now open

Date Posted: 10/21/2016

A one-stop shop is now open for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) where they can avail of all government frontline services.

Launched on August 15, the One-Stop Service Center for OFWs (OSSCO) is located at the ground floor of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s main office at Blas F. Ople Building in Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a statement that the OSSCO is in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to make it easier for OFWs to avail the services of the government.

The one-stop service center is seen to reduce transportation expenses of OFWs and shorten the processing time of their documents.

Aside from making available to OFWs information on their respective programs and services and responding to queries of clients, the various government offices’ services to OFWs are as follows:

1.   Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

• Passport Services
• Passport Validity Extension for Balik-Manggagawa (vacationing workers)

2.    Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)

• Processing of OWWA Membership/Renewal of Membership

3.    Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

• Assistance for Competency Assessment
• Verification of Certificates and Special Order
• Assistance for Replacement of National Certificates (NC)/ Certificates of Competency (COC)
• Training Assistance and Scholarship Program

4.    Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)

• Issuance of Professional License

5.    Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)

• Issuance/ Revalidation of Seaman’s Book

6.    Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF)

• Processing of Pag-IBIG Membership

7.    Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC)

• Payment of Philhealth Contribution
• Member registration and updating

8.    Social Security System (SSS)

• Registration and Membership Data Amendment
• Acceptance of Loan and Benefits Claim Applications
• Loan Verification and Status
• UMID Capturing and Card Releasing
• Response to Queries

9.    Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Processing and Copy Issuance of:

• Certificate of Live Birth
• Certificate of Marriage
• Certificate of Death
• Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR)

10. Bureau of Immigration (BI)

• Departure Clearance Information

11. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

• Issuance of NBI Clearance

12. Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

• Verification and Authentication of School Credentials

13. Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA)

•  Travel Tax Payment
•  Processing of Travel Tax Exemption and Reduced Travel Tax
•  Response to Queries

14. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)

•  Documentation of Workers (Landbased and Seabased)
•  Documentation of Workers-On-Leave/Balik-Manggagawa
•  Registration of Landbased Worker-Applicants
•  Verification/Certification of OFW Records
•  Provision of Legal Assistance
•  Response to Queries

Bello said one-stop centers will also being set-up in all regions spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Offices in coordination with the regional offices of the agencies cited above, local government units, and other partners and stakeholders.

The OSSCO in Ortigas and the regional offices will be opened from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, or in its discretion, with prior approval of the POEA or DOLE Regional Office, may extend the services during weekends and holidays. —KBK, GMA News

Published Date: August 15, 2016
Source: GMA News