Applying for OWWA & OEC Membership (Important!)

I'm a total newbie and I don't really understand stuffs like this before. So when you are young like me and started working abroad, remember that being an OWWA member is very very very important.

OWWA MEMBERSHIP

First, I applied for membership on April 2014. I don't know anyone who has an idea about this thing and where should I renew my membership which I know is valid only for a year. When I went to apply the first time, I was only given a receipt and no Identification Number for reference. So the receipt faded and I don't had anything to use. For short, I wasn't able to renew my membership because of stupidity and laziness.

I went home again on October 2015 but again, I didn't renew because I don't have any idea if my initial registration is still valid. Then I decided to really arrange everything when I go home. I have inquired many times through email before I did anything. I asked if my membership is still valid and where should I go and all documents needed. So this is what they gave me in the email:

OWWA Collection Satellite:   

POEA Ortigas Ave.

Mandaluyong City

SM Manila

NAIA TErminals 1, 2 & 3

Duty Free Philippines

Trinoma

Pag-Ibig Office in Manila

Documents needed:

Copy of valid employment contract

Valid passport with working visa

Membership contribution of US$25.00 or its equivalent in Philippine currency. 

You will need to pay the same amount every year when you renew your membership. When I arrive at the Philippines, I planned to go straight at the main OWWA Office which is at F.B Harrison St., Corner 7th St. Pasay City. But I just decided to go to the Trinoma office since my inquiry through email clearly said I can go there. 

So I went to the Trinoma satellite and what surprised me the most is how accommodating the people are unlike the usual government staff attitude that's famous among Filipinos. I work in a hotel and good service is very important. 

Back to the topic. So yah, you can apply your OEC on that branch too. Since I have acquired for an exemption already, I just went straight to the window where a smiling lady greeted me warmly. She asked me if I can come back after 30 minutes so they can have a short break first (there were only four people that time, but the line was not that long). I went back and she was waiting for me. She validated my previous membership, asked me if I had OEC already and asked for the payment. And voila, done. It didn't even took me 10 minutes to finish all. I even applied for Pag-ibig membership in that short time. It was really efficient. 

As what I have understood, your OWWA membership should be paid consistently (every year) so you can avail the benefits of it (there are loads). I was advised to pay it the same day every year at the embassy because this acts as our insurance while we are out of our own country.

OEC

For my OEC, I applied at bmonline.ph for membership before I went home last October 2015. And our good government made a new announcement that starting September 2016, members who applied online can just acquire exemption IF you are still employed from the same employer. And this new policy saved all of our time, my time, the poea staff time and immigration staff time. 

I only had these when I went home but I still brought an employment certificate and my work permit in case I would be questioned somewhere. Another good thing with this is that when I reached the immigration at the airport going back, they just asked me for the exemption number (which I just screenshot on my phone) and I'm done.

Take note, I did the registration by myself and you don't really have to go to any office to apply the membership unless you don't know how or no one can help you. 

This was way better than before and I've seen improvement. Our government can do better in making these processes easier and I'm sure it will be soon. But for what we have now and what I experienced, job well done. Hope I won't have any problems next time I go home.