www.poea.gov.ph
MANILA, Philippines — Overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, Brunei and Cambodia who need to shuttle between these countries and the Philippines can now avail themselves of the multiple travel exit clearance (MTEC), according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
The Memorandum Circular No. 7 issued by POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac states that those who may take advantage of the MTEC include workers who have finished their contracts and are rehired and are returning to the same employer under a renewed contract; and workers under renewed contract and are on emergency leave, or on official business for their employers or for other various reasons requiring their stay in the country.
Workers returning to the same employer under renewed contract but with a new jobsite may also apply for a MTEC, Cacdac said.
The memorandum circular further states that vacationing workers or balik-manggagawa will be issued an e-Receipt, which would serve as the travel exit clearance with validity period co-terminus with the validity of their employment contracts, but which shall not exceed two years.
“The worker shall have the option to secure a maximum of two travel exit clearances during the validity of his/her existing contract depending on the conditions of the contract allowing him/her frequent vacations,” the memorandum circular adds.
It states that the multiple travel exit clearance issued to workers shall be valid only where a vacationing worker is returning to the same employer whose name and jobsite are indicated in the travel exit clearance and in the visa details.
The POEA said the MTEC must be secured and must be readily available for presentation when applying for travel tax and terminal fee exemption, and prior to departure.
The MTECs are issued at the POEA main office in Mandaluyong City, and at POEA regional centers and extension units for ‘balik-manggagawa’ (rehired) workers bound for Hong Kong, Brunei and Cambodia.