ABU DHABI // A new online system could soon let Filipinos leave their country or the UAE without having to queue for an exit permit.
"We are hoping to implement it this year," said Hans Cacdac, who took over as head of the Philippine overseas employment administration (POEA) on January 2.
"Fast-tracking the processing of overseas employment certificates (OECs) is one way of easing the undue burden caused to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)."
There is still work to be done, though - the budget for the online system has still to be approved, as have other details.
"It requires scrutiny by stakeholders within the Department of Labour and Employment and computer experts in government," Mr Cacdac said. "We need to ensure that the online system will not be an opportunity for illegal recruiters to exploit it."
He also plans to reopen OEC processing kiosks in malls in Manila. The kiosks had previously been set up at shopping malls during Christmas 2010, but were scrapped due to low turnout.
New Filipino hires, and Filipino expatriates returning from visits home, need to secure an exit clearance certificate before they leave the country. It proves they have been hired legally.
At the moment, the certificates are available from the Philippine overseas labour office in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, and at the POEA's main office in Manila. These certificates then have to be verified at the airport.
And while there are verification counters at Manila's three main airport terminals, there have been complaints that the process there is time-consuming - adding up to half an hour before check-in - and inconvenient.
When Gloria Rose Radoc's relatives sent her off at the airport on January 3, she noticed that the verification process took many other passengers by surprise.
"The staff at the airport should inform them beforehand," said the 42-year-old business development manager, who lives and works in Dubai.
She used the verification counter at Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport - but said the OFW lounge was awkwardly located.
"Why can't it be located inside the airport and closer to the airline check-in counters?" she said. "You need to use another entrance and it's such a hassle lugging around your bags inside the [overseas Filipino workers'] lounge."
Passengers have to leave their luggage unattended in one corner of the lounge to join a long queue to have their travel documents checked.
Then they have to take another trolley outside the airport, and queue again for a security check at the departure area.
"It's so disappointing," said Ms Radoc. "Our government regards us as modern-day heroes but we're not treated like one at our airport."
A 35-year-old Filipina web designer in Dubai said she had been about to check in when she was told she needed to leave the departure area to get her documents verified.
"Why do we have to endure another line at the airport?" she asked. "Haven't they been verified when we submitted our documents in Dubai?"
After verification, she was faced with a 20-minute wait for a security check to get back into the terminal building. "It's so inconvenient. Passengers with last boarding calls had no choice but to jump the queue."
In March 2008, Rosalinda Baldoz, the POEA administrator at the time and now the labour secretary, dropped the verification of the OECs after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the streamlining of the procedure. But Carlos Cao Jr, after taking over from Ms Baldoz, revived it in March.
Mr Cacdac said he was "aware of the pros and cons of the OEC validation", and expects to visit the airport counters in Manila today to assess the situation.
"I will speak to the airport authorities and look at the possibility of moving them [the counters]," he said.
"We have to look at both sides of the issue. While the validation of OECs seeks to ensure that the departing passengers are legitimate OFWs, we also want to make sure that they are not inconvenienced."
rruiz@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO
Norwich City 1 (Cantwell 75') Manchester United 2 (Aghalo 51' 118') After extra time.
Man of the match Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
RACECARD%20
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SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6