The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is pushing for the full implementation of the digital eTravel pass as the primary document for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), replacing the long-standing Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).
At a PASEI event in Pasay City on Monday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the system is on pilot run through the eGov PH Super App, which integrates multiple government services into one platform.
“Pina-pilot run ngayon yan, and hopefully, by the first day of next year or even possibly earlier, depending on the pilot run, ay maging ganap na siya talaga, lahat na ng returning workers, hopefully pati mga newly-hired workers, yun na yung outcome document,” he said.
Cacdac stressed that OFWs still need to register with the DMW for monitoring and assistance purposes, but the eTravel pass will serve as the main document for clearance and departure.
“Kailangan namin malaman kung sino sila, nasan sila, para pag may nangyari pwede natin tulungan, pero hindi na yung OEC ang outcome… Basta may eTravel pass ang worker at cleared siya sa DMW, yun na yung pinakadokumento,” he added.
So far, around 70,000 OFWs have benefited from the new system, with a target of 200,000 workers before its official launch.
Cacdac assured that the transition will make OFW processes faster, easier, and more efficient in line with the Marcos administration’s digitalization drive.