CEBU CITY—Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) arriving at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will soon benefit from immediate certification issuance at a new kiosk located in the international arrivals area. This development was announced at the recent Bagong Pilipinas forum by Lawyer Karl Frederick Arriola, officer-in-charge regional director of the Department of Migrant Workers-Central Visayas.
According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative involves collaboration between the airport management and Cebu Pacific to construct the kiosk as part of the broader Bagong Pilipinas efforts to streamline the process for OFWs receiving their overseas employment certificates (OEC). “The objective is to make Mactan-Cebu International Airport an OFW-friendly airport,” Arriola stated. He highlighted that Aboitiz InfraCapital has allocated space for this purpose, and Cebu Pacific has agreed to undertake the construction.
The project aims to enhance the overall efficiency of services provided to OFWs. In addition to the kiosk, Arriola praised local universities for their contribution of interns to the DMW regional office in Cebu City, aiding the staff in the expedited issuance of OECs. He noted, “By 2 to 3 p.m., we can no longer see people in our office because all OECs have already been issued.”
From January to June, DMW-7 has issued 4,396 OECs, organized 26 job fairs, and conducted 100 reintegration activities. The department has also assisted numerous clients with welfare, repatriation, legal, conciliation, and adjudication needs. Additionally, financial support has been extended through the release of PHP870,000 in reintegration assistance, PHP190,000 from the Aksyon Fund, and facilitated a PHP1.5 million settlement amount.