Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) set to go on a vacation to the Philippines this December are advised by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to secure their exit clearances early. They can do this by going to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in their respective host countries before their flight back to the Philippines.

By taking care of their exit clearances even before arriving to the Philippines, OFWs don’t need to go the POEA office in Ortigas to get clearances when it is time for them to return to their host country. It will also prevent long lines and crowds at the POEA so the OFWs and the government agency are spared of the holiday hassles.

POEA said that long lines at the Balik-Manggagawa Processing Center has long been a common sight at the POEA office after the holiday season.

OFWs that are going back to their provinces may get their exit clearance in POEA offices located in Clark Field in Pampanga and the cities of Baguio, Tuguegarao, San Fernando in La Union, Calamba, Legazpi, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, and Davao.

OFWs can also use the Balik-Manggagawa Online Processing System for their convenience.