15 August 2016 — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Milan, Italy, intensified the Balik-Mangagawa Online registration in line with a POEA resolution exempting a group of Filipino workers from the OEC requirement on a pilot project basis.  

Those who are exempted include Balik-Manggagawa workers or those returning to the same employer and jobsite, and listed in the POEA database of OFWs; or those hired through POEA Government Placement Branch.

The resolution was issued following the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to streamline the processes in the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). 

Balik-Manggagawa workers are encouraged to register at bmonline.ph and provide their personal and employment details to validate if they are exempted from obtaining the OEC. This information will be transmitted to the Bureau of Immigration as a reference in validating the exemption of the workers during their departure.

Balik-Manggagawa workers are exempted from paying the travel tax and airport terminal fee upon presentation of their valid work permit/ valid employment contract/ valid company ID/ recent payroll slip or other equivalent document, to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).   END