a) With visas issued prior to 16 December 2006, or processed under job orders registered with POEA prior to 16 December 2006, or processed under employment contracts that were verified by the concerned POLOs prior to 16 December 2006 shall be exempted from the following reform package:

1. 1. Minimum age of 23
2. 2. Minimum entry salary of US$400
3. 3. No – placement Fee policy
4. 4. TESDA NC2 Certificate
5. 5. Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation. Provided that these newly hired HSWs are processed at POEA before 1 March 2007.

b) With visas issued after 16 December 2006, or processed under job orders registered with POEA after 16 December 2006, or processed under employment contracts that were verified by the concerned POLOs after 16 December 2006 shall be covered by the following:

1. 1. Minimum age of 23
2. 2. Minimum entry salary of US$400
3. 3. No – placement Fee policy
4. 4. TESDA NC2 Certificate
5. 5. Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation.

Newly hired HSWs shall be exempted from the TESDA and OWWA requirements if bound for countries with prescribed skills training and language and culture orientation as conditions for visa issuance. The determination of the countries with such requirements shall be done by POEA.

a) Vacationing HSWs or those with existing overseas employment contracts executed prior to 1 March 2007 and are returning to their employer at anytime within the duration of their contract are exempted from the coverage of the following reforms:

1. 1. Minimum age of 23
2. 2. Minimum entry salary of US$400
3. 3. TESDA NC2 Certificate
4. 4. Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation. Provided that these newly hired HSWs are processed at POEA before 1 March 2007.

The No-placement Fee policy does not apply to them since they are merely resuming their employment under an existing contract and are processed at the POEA without the participation of an agency.

b) HSWs who completed their overseas contracts within 2006 and thereafter, and are returning to the same or new employer with their OEC issued before 1 March 2007, are exempted from the following:

1. 1. Minimum age of 23
2. 2. Minimum entry salary of US$400
3. 3. Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency
4. 4. TESDA NC2 Certificate
5. 5. Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA

c) HSWs who completed their overseas contracts before 2006 and are returning to the same or new employer with their OEC issued before 1 March 2007 are covered by the new minimum salary rate of US$400. They are, however, exempted from the following:

1. 1. Minimum age requirement
2. 2. Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency
3. 3. TESDA NC2 requirement, unless required by their employer
4. 4. OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA

d) HSWs who completed their overseas employment contracts which were executed prior to 1 March 2007 and are being processed under a new contract with the same employer or new employer on or after 1 March 2007 are covered by the new minimum salary rate of US$400. They are, however, exempted from the following:

1. 1. Minimum age requirement
2. 2. Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency
3. 3. TESDA NC2 requirement, unless required by their employer
4. 4. OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA

e) HSWs who completed their employment contract before or after 2006 and are being processed under a new contract with the same or a new employer on or after 1 March 2007 are covered by the new minimum salary rate of US$400. They are, however, exempted from the following:

1. 1. Minimum age requirement
2. 2. Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency
3. 3. TESDA NC2 requirement, unless required by their employer
4. 4. OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA

[1] Referring to HSWs without any previous overseas work experience as a HSW and former HSWs who failed to finish their previous contract as a HSW.

Philippine law requires a citizen or subject of a foreign country to obtain a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage. It is issued by the diplomatic or consular offices of his or her country, prior to the issuance of a marriage license in the Philippines. This serves as a clearance or permit from the consul as an actual proof of the subject’s civil status and his/her eligibility for marriage.

After receiving the certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage both parties must proceed to the city hall or the municipality in which the Philippine national habitually resides. (where he or she has lived for at least the last 6 months). You must then both present the certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage to the local civil registrar and apply for your marriage license. (Family Code of the Philippines, Article 9). Please refer all questions regarding the procedures and requirements necessary to apply for your marriage license directly to the local civil registrar issuing the marriage license.

After applying your marriage license, the information given in the application will be posted for 10 consecutive days inside the city hall or the municipality in which the Philippine national habitually resides. The marriage license will be issued after the completion of this 10-day period (Family Code of the Philippines, Article 17). The marriage license, once issued, is valid in any part of the Philippines for 120 days. If it has not been used during this 120-day period it will then automatically expire (Family Code of the Philippines, Article 20)

The marriage ceremony must be solemnized by an individual with the legal authority to perform such a ceremony. Upon the completion of the ceremony all participants (the presiding official, the witnesses, and the husband and wife must sign the marriage certificate (Family Code of the Philippines, Articles 2-7).

Following the signing of the marriage certificate by all parties involved, the marriage certificate must be sent to the city hall or the municipality in which the Philippine national habitually resides. It will then be registered by the local civil register. (Family Code of the Philippines, Article 23). Please remember to get certified true copies of the marriage contract from the local civil registrar.

Mga Karaniwang Tanong sa Overseas Workers Program ng PhilHealth Membership

1. 1.Bakit ko dapat i-renew ang aking PhilHealth membership sa tuwing ako ay aalis at magtatrabaho sa ibang bansa?
   - Mahalaga ito para tuloy-tuloy ang coverage ninyo na magagamit sa panahon ng pagkakasakit ninuman sa inyong pamilya.
2. 2.Anu-ano ang mga dokumentong kailangan kong isumite para sa aking renewal?
   Isumite lamang ang alinman sa mga sumusunod:
   - Active Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)
   - Valid Overseas Employment Contract
   - Active re-entry visa o kahit na anong dokumento na nagpapatunay na active OFW pa ang miyembro
3. 3.Saan ako maaaring mag-renew ng aking membership?
   Maaari po kayong mag-renew sa alinman sa mga sumusunod:
   - Tanggapan ng PhilHealth
   - PhilHealth Balik Manggagawa Processing Center na nasa Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)
   - Tanggapan ng I-Remit na matatagpuan sa Singapore, London UK, Taipei at Hongkong
4. 4.Sino naman ang maaaring magproseso ng aking renewal kung ako ay nasa ibang bansa?
   - Sinuman sa inyong immediate family ay maaaring magproseso ng inyong renewal. Kailangan lamang nila ng valid Identification Card at magsumite ng anumang dokumento na magpapatunay na kayo ay i sang active OFW. Kung hindi kapamilya kailangan din ng authorization letter galing sa miyembro at 2 valid IDs nila.
5. 5.Ano ang kailangan kong gawin upang maisaayos ang mali o kulang na impormasyon na naitala ko sa PhilHealth katulad ng civil status, employment, tirahan, dependents at iba pa?
   - Magfill-up lamang kayo ng 2 kopya ng Member Data Amendment Form (M2) at isumite sa alinmang tanggapan ng PhilHealth kalakip ang mga kaukulang dokumento na makikita sa likuran ng nasabing form.
6. 6.Kung ako ay isang immigrant na ng ibang bansa, maaari ko pa bang ipagpatuloy ang membership ko sa PhilHealth?
   - Hindi na kayo maaaring maging miyembro pa ng PhilHealth kung kayo ay magpapalit na ng pagkama mamayan (citizenship). Ngunit kung kayo ay nasa Pilipinas maaari ninyong ipagpatuloy ang inyong PhilHealth coverage bilang Voluntary member sa ilalim ng Individually Paying Program.