Pasay city: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is targeting the full implementation of the digital eTravel pass, replacing the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), and becoming the primary document for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for departure. At an event of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI) in Pasay City on Monday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the new system, which aims to streamline processes for OFWs by merging the longstanding OEC requirement with the government's digital travel platform, is currently on pilot run under the eGovPH app.

According to Philippines News Agency, Cacdac noted that the transition forms part of the Marcos administration's broader digitalization efforts through the eGov PH Super App, which integrates multiple government services into a single platform, and makes government transactions more efficient for Filipinos at home and abroad. Cacdac expressed optimism that the system could be fully operational by the start of next year, potentially sooner, depending on the outcomes of the pilot run, with the aim of providing all returning and newly-hired workers with the eTravel pass as their primary document.

Cacdac clarified that while the eTravel pass will replace the OEC, OFWs will still need to register with the DMW for monitoring and tracking purposes. This registration ensures that the DMW can assist workers in case of emergencies, although the outcome will no longer be the OEC. The eTravel pass and OEC have merged, and the eTravel pass will now serve as the main document for OFWs, provided that they are cleared with the DMW.

He highlighted that approximately 70,000 OFWs have already benefited from the system, and the DMW aims to reach about 200,000 workers before the official launch. Cacdac assured OFWs that using the eTravel pass would expedite processes, making them easier and more efficient.