Ever since the news about iDOLE, the new ID for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), have been posted, many people have been asking about it such as how to register for it, or how to get the card. Fees and expiration dates have also come into topic. To answer their queries, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III explained about iDOLE through an interview recently.
The interview was conducted by the Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Mocha Uson, who aired the video on her official Facebook page. Read on to know more about DOLE’s latest identification system for OFWs.
DOLE Secretary Bello Answers Questions about the New iDOLE OFW card
Here is what Secretary Bello said about iDOLE, the new ID for OFWs:
#1 – Is iDOLE really free?
“Libre, walang babayaran ang mga OFW.” (It’s free, OFWs won’t have to pay anything).
#2 – What if employers deduct an iDOLE fee from the OFWs’ salary?
“Yung employer nila ang icha-charge namin. Wag kayong papayag na kaltasan ang sweldo niyo para ipang-bayad sa ID ninyo. Kapag pinag-bayad kayo, i-rerefund ng DOLE, pero sisingilin din namin sa agency. At yung agency na kumuha sa employer niyo, pananagutin namin ‘yan.” (We will charge their employers. Don’t allow them to deduct from your salary to pay for your ID. If they charge you, DOLE will give you a refund, but we will still charge the agency. The agency that got your employer will have to pay.)
#3 – What if employers try to force OFWs to pay a fee?
“Ililipat ka namin. Bibigyan ka namin ng bagong employer. Pero yung agency na kumuha sa employer mo, pananagutin namin ‘yan.” (We will transfer you and give you a new employer. But the agency that got your employer will have to pay.)
#4 – What if OFWs decide to change their host country or place of work?
“I-inform lang ang OWWA or DOLE and we will give you a new ID. Libre all the way.” (Just inform OWWA or DOLE and we will give you a new idea. It’s free all the way.)
#5 – Does iDOLE have an expiration date?
“Walang expiration date na two years. Kapag nawala, bibigyan kayo ng panibago.” (There is no expiration date of two years. If your ID gets lost, we will give you a new one.)
#6 – Can a former OFW get iDOLE, too?
“Oo, pwede kang kumuha dahil nakapag-contribute ka na sa pondo ng gobyerno. At walang bayad.” (Yes, you can get an ID because you have already contributed to government. And you don’t need to pay anything.)
#7 – Is there an online portal launched for iDOLE?
“Wag po kayong maniwala, mga fake news ‘yan. Wala pa kaming online portal. Hindi pa namin ginagawa yung implementingguidelines.” (Don’t believe any fake news about an online portal. We don’t have one yet. We haven’t made the implementing guidelines.)
#8 – How can people know more about iDOLE?
“OFWs may contact the DOLE hotline, 1349, which is open 24/7.”
Here is a video of the interview with Secretary Bello, conducted by Assistant Secretary Uson:
The iDOLE card seeks to provide OFWs with better access to banking, transportation, and government services. This will surely be a great help to the many Filipinos who are working around the world, as they strive to support their families back home.