As an OFW, your life abroad involves pursuing better opportunities, working hard and making sacrifices. However, the time will eventually come when you need to return to your home country. To make a successful return to the Philippines, you need to carefully plan each step of the way. After all, going back requires more than just booking a fight.
As the saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail. One needs to prepare for a successful reintegration into Philippine life. Not planning at all may lead to getting overwhelmed by the challenges that come with readjusting to the new environment. In this article, we will talk about how to prepare for your return to the Philippines as an OFW, including the necessary requirements.
Preparation for OFWs Returning to the Philippines
The following are the documents you need to prepare before returning to the Philippines:
- eTravel QR Code
- Valid Passport – validity for at least 6 months before your departure.
- Vaccination Certificate – if you are vaccinated
- Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)
Preparing for Your Return
Before you leave your job overseas, you need to do the following:
- Inform your employer (well in advance) that you are planning to return back to the Philippines.
- Close or transfer any financial commitments, investments and bank accounts you may have abroad.
- Get a certificate of employment (COE) from your employer. The COE should state your tenure and position.
Organize your personal belongings
You need to deal with the personal belongings you accumulated while staying overseas as well. You may want to consider doing the following:
- Decide whether you wish to ship your belongings or store them in a storing facility.
- Ensure that all your legal and personal documents are in order and updated.
- Declare your foreign income to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
- File a tax return in the Philippines, though this depends on your earnings and residency status.
Check Health Insurance Coverage
Make sure that your current policy will cover you during your transition period. Some overseas health insurance plans aren’t valid when you return to the Philippines.
If you haven’t already, you should register to PhilHealth, the country’s national health insurance program. You can check your membership by:
- Visiting a PhilHealth office or checking your registration online
- Providing proof of previous contributions, proof of residence, valid ID.
- Paying premiums for coverage activation.
Social Security Benefits
When OFWs return to the Philippines, Pag-IBIG Fund offers the following benefits:
- Housing Loan Assistance – Pag-IBIG’s affordable housing programs have favorable terms and conditions that make it easier for OFWs to build their own homes in the Philippines.
- Home Conversion Program – OFWs can also ask assistance from Pag-IBIG in terms of refinancing. The interest rates are relatively low.
- MP2 Savings Program: OFWs can continue to contribute to the MP2 Savings Program even after returning to the Philippines.
- Retirement Benefit: After contributing to Pag-IBIG for a certain period, OFWs can receive retirement benefits upon reaching retirement age.
- Online Services: through online services, it is easier for OFWs to manage their accounts, loans and access any information they need anytime and anywhere.
SSS also offers several benefits to support OFWs. Here are some of them:
- Retirement Pension
- Disability Pension: If an OFW returns to the Philippines with a permanent disability, they may be eligible for a disability pension from SSS.
- Death Benefit: If an OFW passes away after returning to the Philippines, their beneficiaries may be eligible for a death benefit from SSS.
- Loan Assistance: Returning OFWs can avail themselves of SSS loan programs for various purposes.
- Online Services: SSS, much like Pag-IBIG and other government institutions, has an online app which makes it easier to access key information and make loan applications, among others.
Key Government Programs to aid OFWs
Here are some important programs initiated by various government agencies in the Philippines to help OFWs.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA):
- Repatriation Assistance – OWWA can repatriate OFWs for reasons that include emergencies and job loss.
- Skills Training and Development – OFWs can avail of these programs to learn new skills or upgrade their existing ones.
- Financial Assistance – OWWA offers financial assistance to OFWs and their families in times of need, such as medical expenses or emergency situations.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE):
- Job Placement Services – this helps OFWs find a job as they return to the Philippines
- Entrepreneurship Training: DOLE’s training programs help assist OFWs who want to start their own businesses.
- Special Employment Program (SEP): SEP is a government program that provides temporary employment opportunities to OFWs who are unable to find regular jobs.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA):
- Free Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) – TESDA offers free TVET programs to OFWs for skill acquisition or development.
- Certification and Assessment: TESDA provides certification and assessment services to OFWs who complete TVET programs.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI):
- Entrepreneurship Development Program – this also helps OFWs start their own business.
- Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development Program
As you prepare to return to the Philippines, you need to carefully plan your steps. Don’t forget about the minor details, including ones related to your finances and the documents that you need to secure. You also need to think about your security systems, such as insurances and coverages that you may have while working abroad but may no longer be eligible when you return to the Philippines.
Going back to the Philippines, OFWs will have a period of adjustment which involves learning to reintegrate to the new locality. You will also definitely reconnect with family members, friends, relatives and other loved ones, and there’s a period of adjustment for that as well. Depending on how long you’ve been far away, you may also need to readjust to the new culture and lifestyle.