Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – BALIK-MANGGAGAWA (BM) PROCESSING

WHO ARE CONSIDERED BALIK-MANGGAGAWA(BM)?

• Worker-on-Leave – a worker who is on vacation or on leave from employment under a valid and existing employment contract and who is returning to the same employer, regardless of any change in jobsite, to finish the remaining unexpired portion of the contract.
• Rehire - a worker who was rehired by the same employer after finishing his/her
  contract and who is returning to the same employer, regardless of a change in jobsite.
• POLO registered worker - a returning worker whose employment contract was not processed with the POEA but was subsequently verified and registered with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in the jobsite and who is returning to the same employer either as a worker-on-leave or rehire, regardless of any change in jobsite.
  Same employer / principal refer to the employer named in the employment contract previously processed with the POEA, or registered with the POLO at the jobsite.

WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR BM PROCESSING?

• Proof of existing employment (such as valid employment contract, employment certificate, valid company ID, pay slips)
• Passport valid for at least 6 months from the time of departure
• Valid visa / re-entry permit / work permit or equivalent document

WHAT ARE THE FEES?

POEA processing fee         -    PHp 100.00

OWWA membership fee    -    US$25 or its peso equivalent (per contract basis)

PhilHealth                           -    PHp 900.00 (good for 1 year coverage)

Pag-Ibig membership          -    PHp 100 (minimum)

WHAT IS THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF BM e-RECEIPT / OEC?

SIXTY (60) days from date of issuance; ONE (1) day for OECs issued by the Labor Assistance Centers (LACs) at the airports.

WHAT HAPPENS IF BM e-RECEIPT / OEC IS LOST?


A lost BM e-receipt / OEC shall not be replaced by another e-receipt / OEC. A worker who lost his/her BM e-receipt/OEC shall be issued a certification indicating the particulars of the e-receipt/OEC previously issued to him/her, based on available POEA/POLO records, upon submission of an Affidavit of Loss. This certification shall serve as travel exit clearance for the worker's departure to return to his/her jobsite, in lieu of the lost e-receipt/OEC but may not be honored for travel tax and airport terminal fee exemption unless otherwise allowed by the concerned offices / entities.


WHAT IF BM E-RECEIPT / OEC EXPIRES BEFORE USAGE?

An expired BM e-receipt/OEC shall be replaced only upon submission of all the copies of the expired exit clearance and payment of the required BM processing fee of PHp100.00. In case the PhilHealth and OWWA membership of the worker has already expired at the time of replacement, payment for the renewal of PhilHealth and OWWA membership shall also be required.

Request for replacement of expired e-receipts/OEC shall be allowed only within a period of one (1) month from date of expiration. Otherwise, the application shall be treated as a new request for processing and must be supported by compliance with all the requirements for processing and issuance of BM e-receipt/OEC.

WHAT IS A MULTIPLE TRAVEL EXIT CLEARANCE (MTEC)?

MTEC is a single issuance of travel exit clearance good for at least 3 exits within the validity period of the existing contract of the worker whose contract with the same employer has a duration of not less than twelve (12) months from the date of application for travel exit clearance. MTEC shall strictly be used for travel to the worker's jobsite.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR MTEC?

1. Workers whose nature of work and employment contract allow the worker multiple exit from the jobsite and re-entry to the Philippines for at least three (3) times within a period of one (1) year during the duration of his/her employment contract;
2. Filipino cabin crew and flight attendants of commercial aircrafts who are joining their operational flights outside of the country, and who are not in possession of permanent resident visa issued by their foreign host countries; and
3. Other categories of returning workers whose contract of employment provides frequent scheduled vacations or rotational leave
   
   

HOW MUCH IS THE COST OF MTEC?

POEA processing fee of PHp100.00

WHAT ABOUT VACATIONING WORKERS WHO LEFT AS TOURISTS AND WHOSE CONTRACTS WERE NOT SUBSEQUENTLY VERIFIED AND REGISTERED WITH THE POLO AT THE JOBSITE?

Undocumented / irregular workers will be documented as Balik-Manggagawa, provided that that they are returning to the same employer, and subject to their compliance with the documentary requirements and payment of prescribed fees for balik-manggagawa processing. Otherwise, they will be documented as (BM) Name Hire.

WHAT ABOUT VACATIONING WORKERS WHO CHANGED EMPLOYERS?

If their contracts with their new employers were not subsequently verified and registered with the POLO on-site, vacationing workers who changed employers will not be documented as balik-manggagawa. They will be documented as (BM) Name Hire at the Name Hire Unit.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR (BM) NAME HIRE PROCESSING?

• Proof of existing employment (such as valid employment contract, employment certificate, valid company ID, pay slips)
  • For Household Service Workers (HSWs), employment contract compliant with the minimum salary requirement of US$400 for HSWs shall be required
  • Valid visa / re-entry permit / work permit or equivalent document
  • Passport valid for at least six (6) months from the time of departure
  • PDOS (not required / optional)
  • Medical certificate of fitness to work FOR THOSE WHOSE HOME LEAVE EXCEEDS FIVE (5) MONTHS AT THE TIME OF (BM) NAME HIRE PROCESSING

WHAT ARE THE FEES FOR (BM) NAME HIRE PROCESSING?

POEA processing fee         -    US$100 or its peso equivalent

OWWA membership fee    -    US$25 or its peso equivalent

PhilHealth                           -    PHp 900.00 (good for 1 year coverage)

Pag-Ibig membership          -    PHp 100 (minimum)

ARE PERMANENT RESIDENT VISA HOLDERS REQUIRED TO SECURE OEC?

No, they are not. Only those leaving on work/employment visa are required to secure POEA travel exit clearance. Permanent residents / immigrants leaving on immigrant or permanent visa shall not be processed by the POEA but should register with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO).

WHERE CAN BM OEC's BE SECURED?

• Balik-Manggagawa Processing Division (BMPD) – POEA main office
• POEA Regional Centers – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
• POEA Regional Extension Units / Satellite Offices
  • Labor Assistance Centers (LAC) – at international airports in Manila, Cebu and Mindanao. (OEC issuance at LACs is limited to those classified as regular balikmanggagawa - vacationing workers, rehires, POLO-registered workers - with confirmed airline bookings on the date of request of BM OEC issuance, and whose home leave does not exceed FIVE (5) days. (BM) Name Hires cannot be issued BM OEC at the LACs.)
  • Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO)
    
    
  WHAT ARE THE PROCESSES INVOLVED IN BM PROCESSING?
  There are three (3) options in BM processing:

Option 1.
One Day Processing


Option 2.

Two Days Processing, wherein BM procedures are cut into two (2) phases, with short waiting time for both phase 1 and phase 2, instead of one day processing where the queues and waiting time are long. Under this option, the worker shall come back for his travel exit clearance the following day, at the same time of application filing. For example, if the worker files his/her application on Monday, between 8:00-10:00 a.m. his/her appointed day and time to claim his/her document is on the following day, Tuesday, also between 8-10 a.m.; if worker comes between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., his/her appointed time for the following day to claim his document will also be between 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.; if worker comes between 2:00 – 5:00 p.m., his/her appointed time for the following day to claim his/her document will also be between 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Option 3.

Door-to-Door Delivery Service, wherein workers just file their applica- tions and have their travel exit clearance delivered to their homes thru Teleserve, a private courier(door-to-door) service provider which has an office within the premises of the Balik-Manggagawa Processing Division.

Teleserve delivery fee is a flat rate of PHp220 within Metro Manila and the provinces. Delivery is 3 days within Metro Manila; 5 days for provincial deliveries.

WHAT ARE THE PROCESSES INVOLVED IN OPTIONS 2 AND 3:

In both options, BM procedures have 2 phases:

Phase 1    Phase 2

FOR PERSONAL PICK UP

1. Worker fills up Info Sheet                                         1. Worker presents his/her Claim Stub /
   (Pre-numbered forms are avai-                        Return Slip at the designated RELEASING
   lable at the BMAD Entrance.    Window on the day and time indicated
2. Worker submits accomplished    in the Claim Stub / Return Slip.
   Info Sheet, with documentary    2. Worker's documents are released. (He /
   requirements at designated    she signs the Claim Stub / Return Slip
   Windows.    which is collected at RELEASING upon
3. RECEIVING checks documents    release of documents).
   for completeness and compliance    3. Worker proceeds to designated
   with requirements.    Assessment Windows for assessment.
4. On-line database verification    of fees.
   to check data on worker and    3. Payment of fees at designated Cashier
   and employer.    Windows.
   4. Release of the BM travel exit clearance.
   If the worker is not a regular Balik-
   manggagawa as herein defined,
   he/she will be referred to the Name    FOR DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE DELIVERY
   Unit for (BM) Name Hire processing.    r
   Worker's travel exit clearance shall be
   If documents are deficient or not in        delivered to the worker's designated
   order, worker will be referred to the     home address via courier service.
   Supervisor, or concerned office for
   compliance of deficient document/s.
   5. Issuance of Claim Stub/Return Slip, if worker is a regular BM.
   If worker opts home delivery, he will
   be referred to Teleserve for courier service.

Source:

http://www.poea.gov.ph/

POEA Advisory no. 31: Clarification on new procedure in the processing of Travel Exit Clearance

Exactly 10 days after issuing the advisory no. 31, POEA had issued another advisory to clarify the new procedure in processing the travel exit clearance.  The existing one-day processing of BM documents is actually still in place.  The returning OFWs has an option to use the new two-phase procedure or follow the old procedure.

Here is the content of POEA Advisory no. 31, Series of 2011

 

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

Advisory no. 31, Series of 2011

24 June 2011

 

Further to POEA Advisory no. 30, Series of 2011, on the revised procedures in the processing of Balik-Manggagawa (BM) or returning workers, it is hereby clarified that the existing one-day processing of BM documents is still in place.  The new two-phase procedure merely provides options to returning workers to manage their time better instead of waiting for hours for the release of their documents.  The long wait is due to the big volume of BM applicants queuing at the Balik-Manggagawa processing Center, averaging 1500-1600 daily on regular days and 2500-3000 on peak seasons, particularly during Christmas holidays an school graduations.

 

Balik-Manggagawa workers may secure their Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC) / E-receipts which serves as travel exit clearance from the following POEA BM processing centers:

• POEA Main Office in Mandaluyong City
• POEA Regional Centers in Luzon (San Fernando City), Visayas (Cebu City) and Mindanao (Davao City)
• POEA Regional Extension Units/Satellite Offices located int he Cities of Tuguegarao and Baguio, Clark, Pampanga, Cities of Calamba, Laguna, Legazpi, Iloilo, Bacolod, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan and Tawi-tawi.
• Labor Assistance Centers (LACs) at international airports in Manila, Cebu, and Mindano.  BM OEC issuance at the LAC is limited to vacationing workers whose home leave does not exceed five (5) days, and with confirmed airline bookings on the date of request for OEC issuance.  OECs issued at the LAC are valid only on the date of issuance.
• Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) in major host countries and cities of Filipino labor.

 

The complete addresses of the POEA Offices nationwide and the POLOs are found at the POEA website http://www.poea.gov.ph/ or call 722-1144 / 722-1155 for such information.

 

Another available option at the POEA main office is the door-to-door delivery wherein the worker's OEC/E-receipt is delivered to his home address through courier service.

 

Further, all returning workers are strongly advised to serucre their exit clearance from the POEA offices nearest to their locations ahead of their flight schedules, and not on the actual date of their departure, to avoid unnecessary inconvenience.

 

For information and guidance.

 

CARLOS S. CAO, JR.

Administrator

 

Source:

http://www.poea.gov.ph/



 

 

 

 

 

POEA Advisory no. 30: Travel Exit Clearance

July 25, 2011

Effective 1st July 2011, a new system will be implemented in securing TRAVEL EXIT CLEARANCE.  Below is the exact content of POEA Advisory no. 30 released last 14th July 2011 by Mr. Carlos S. Cao Jr.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

Advisory no. 30 Series of 2011

All Balik-Manggagawa (BM) / vacationing overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are hereby informed on the revised procedures in the processing of BM travel exit clearance which will be adopted by the Balik-Manggagawa Processing Center (BMPC) at the POEA main office.

The revised procedure intends to address the long queues and waiting time of BM workers applying for travel exit clearance by adopting adjustments in the proceduresd and processing time.  The new system will also allow the workers to efficiently manage their time allocation for securing BM travel exit clearance.

Under the new system, BM processing shall be adjusted into two (2) phases:

Phase 1.

a.      Submission of application with the required supporting documents at designated Windows/Counters.

b.      Evaluation of documents for completeness and compliance with requirements.

c.       On-line verification

d.      Evaluation

e.       If documents are in order, worker is issued a Claim Stub which he/she presents the following day, at the same time, for the release of his/her documents, prior to assessment and payment of fees.

     *If not a BM, worker is referred to Name Hire Unit for Name Hire Processing

     *If with complete compliance, worker is referred to the Supervisor or concerned office with compliance slip

f.       Encoding

Phase 2.

a.      Worker shall present his/her Claim Stub at designated Windows on designated day and time.

b.      Release of documents to worker.

c.      Worker proceeds to Assessments.

d.      Payment of fees.

e.      Release of travel exit clearance / e-receipt.

With the new system and to avoid unnecessary inconvenience, workers are hereby reminded to strictly observe the date and time of release of documents and to secure BM travel exit clearance ahead of their flight schedules, not on the actual date of their departure.