POEA open during holidays

MANILA, Dec 1 (PNA) – The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will continue to provide services to overseas Filipino workers even during the Christmas holidays.

POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili said the “Balik-Manggagawa” Processing Division at the POEA main office along Edsa, Mandaluyong and 10 regional and satellite office nationwide will be open from 9 am to 4 pm on Dec. 26 and 29 and on Jan. 2, 2009 to issue travel exit clearance (TEC) to OFWs.

On the other hand, regional and satellite offices which are open during the week-long holidays are: POEA La Union, Pampanga, Calamba City, Legaspi City, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Davao City, Cagayan De Oro City and Zamboanga City.

The POEA chief said the department aims to accommodate thousands of OFWs who return to the country for the Christmas holidays.

The POEA estimates that about 50,000 OFWs would secure TECs after the holiday season.

The OFWs need TECs to be able to leave the country and return to their jobs abroad after the holidays.