OWWA Reminds Returning OFWs to Validate Vax Documents with POLO
The Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) reminds OFWs returning to the Philippines with relatives to validate their vaccination documents with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in their host country.
The Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) have green-listed 57 countries, granting travelers from such countries a shorter quarantine period upon entering the Philippines.
OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac based the reminder on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Department Order No. 226-A.
Cacdac announced in a tweet on Thursday, July 15, that “Secretary Bello has issued DOLE Department Order No. 226-A, amending D.O. 226, whereby spouses, parents, and children traveling with fully-vaccinated returning OFWs from the 57 ‘green list’ countries may also get their vaccine documents validated by the POLOs. ”
The order covers all returning OFWs, whether documented or undocumented, as well as their spouse, children, and relatives traveling with them.
OWWA advises returning OFWs to apply for a POLO validation through the One Health Pass Portal. The portal allows them to submit their documents for verification online.
POLO requires the following documents to be submitted for validation before travel:
- A vaccine card or any document issued in the host country or jurisdiction showing proof of validation; and
- a valid passport or travel document and proof of Overseas Employment such as a verified employment contract, Overseas Employment Certificate, OWWA membership, or other applicable documents that the concerned POLO may require.
Moreover, OWWA stated, “If traveling with their spouse, children, and parents, their application shall be submitted online by the returning OFW together with proof of relationship, such as but not limited to, Certificate of Live Birth, Marriage Contract, Valid Identification Cards, or other pertinent documents that POLO Offices may require to submit.”