The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has clarified that the requirement for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to present an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is a policy of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), not a rule created by the bureau itself.
The clarification came after a viral video showed a child at the airport whose mother was prevented from boarding due to missing documents, including a valid working visa and OEC.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado explained that the agency is mandated to enforce DMW policies to ensure Filipino workers are properly documented before leaving the country.
“Filipinos traveling abroad on employment visas are required to present a valid OEC, while those on dependent visas are not,” Viado said.
The OEC, which is mandated under Republic Act 11641 or the Department of Migrant Workers Act, serves as proof of legal overseas employment and also grants exemptions from travel tax and terminal fees.
To avoid delays and last-minute issues at airports, the BI urged workers to secure their OEC in advance through official channels. Viado also noted that a dedicated OFW wing has been opened at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 to make processing more convenient for departing migrant workers.
