R50 M earmarked for OFW IDs

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has allocated R50 million for the printing of identification cards (ID) for overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

Labor and Employment Secretary and chairman of the OWWA Board of Trustees Silvestre Bello III, disclosed they made the decision through the issuance of a board resolution last week after considering other sources of funding for the project.

The OFW ID will allow OFWs to use the integrated DOLE System or iDOLE systems to help ease their deployment processing.

Bello noted there were some companies, which volunteered to pay for the printing of the ID.

“But we decided for OWWA to shoulder the printing... we are wary that some (companies) might pay for it (ID) but might ask something in return,” Bello said.

Bello stressed the OFW ID will remain free for its intended beneficiaries except if they would want it delivered to their homes.

DOLE earlier said it is targeting to start the printing and distribution of the OFW ID this week in time for the return of OFWs for the Christmas holidays.

However, DOLE was unable to meet its tentative deadline for the release of the OFW ID, which was supposed to be on Wednesday, due to the delayed in the release of its guidelines.