THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) issued in October some 300,000 enhanced electronic cards (e-cards) that grant migrant workers easier access to government services and benefits, as well as discounts from its partner establishments.
The number was almost double the 180,000 e-cards issued by the attached agency of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) last August.
Launched in July 2024, the e-card version 2 includes enhanced security features and provides Owwa members easier access to its benefits services through the agency’s mobile application.
Among the OWWA programs e-card holds can avail is its Botika and Yakap Clinic.
The e-card serves as a government-issued identification card and has a digital version, which can be accessed in the eGov.PH app.
Its holders can also avail discounts and perks from OWWA’s partner establishments worldwide, which includes remittance centers; balikbayan box and logistics services; restaurants and hotels; airline companies; and merchants with exclusive access to OFW discounts.
To avail of the e-cards, the applicant must be an active OWWA member, have an OWWA membership card, which will not expire for at least three months, and must have a government ID such as passport.
‘The rollout continues so that more active OWWA members can obtain e-cards anywhere in the world,’ OWWA said in a statement during the weekend.
OWWA members can apply for the e-cards locally at the agency’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 desk (Naia 3), its National Capital Region (NCR) Office, the Owwa-NCR Seafarers Hub, its Head Office, and the OWWA-DMW (Central Office).
In the Middle East, e-card application is available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar), Qatar (Doha), and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai and Abu Dhabi).
In Asia, it is available in Hong Kong, Singapore (starting this week), and Thailand (Bangkok).
It can also be availed by OWWA members in Italy (Milan), Rome, Austria (Vienna) and Hungary (Budapest).