DOLE open to redesigning OFW ID

MANILA, Philippines — After receiving flak from the public, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday it is open to redesigning the identification cards (IDs) for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they would take into consideration the sentiments of the people about the government-issued IDs.

“We are open to changing its design. But so far, we have not heard any complaint from OFWs. We are only hearing negative reactions from the media,” Bello said.

He said Malacañang had nothing to do with the placing of President Duterte’s photo on the IDs, adding it was the initiative of the DOLE.

An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) questioned the inclusion of Duterte’s photo in the IDs issued to OFWs.

Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, who chairs the CBCP episcopal commission on migrants and itinerant people, described such a move as politicking and “kaepalan.”

“What is the use of having the picture of the President on the ID?” the prelate asked.

But the CBCP official lauded the government for providing migrant Filipino workers with IDs.

The DOLE said OFWs would no longer need to queue in transacting with agencies as they could access government services online.