OEC Authentication (Nightmare for OFWs)

And so I thought I can relax in the Airport’s boarding lounge (I was wrong). A long line in the entrance, I finally got through then x-rays, done. Luggage checked-in, no hassles, 27kg exact weight. Another long line for OWFs where OEC are being checked (It’s nice to have some privilege as an OFW, airport’s fee and travel tax exemption), it took me 30 minutes or more then finally my turn. I handed over my passport together with the boarding pass and the precious “OEC” (Overseas Employment Certificate).
A moment of silence as the airport employee is verifying my documents. Then “BOOM!” I almost dropped my hand carry which weighs almost 7kgs upon hearing this blood-boiling line “Please go-out and go to the OFW Lounge for your OEC’s authentication.”

Yeah as you can imagine; I was so furious (I can even melt a candle with my stare), like you who have experienced the same to go out for the stamp and go through almost all the processes again with almost 10kgs (including the laptop and accessories) on your back and in your hand with the thought of leaving your family again for a year. Going back, and so I went outside, look for the OFW lounge and fell in line. I asked the gentleman inside the cubicle “how come I was not informed about this authentication thing from where I got my OEC?” He replied with a bit of sarcasm “haven’t you seen the big notice outside?” Yeah folks, as if it was entirely my fault. Does this employee realize how hard it is to leave family to work abroad? Going on, I said “Mister, what I was trying to say is, at least those people who issue the OEC must inform those “Balik-Manggagawa” about this time consuming and tiring authentication thing.”

My flight is 18:20 hours and I arrived at the airport 15:30 hours to avoid being rushed. Still I got inside the boarding lounge 20 minutes before take-off.

So my fellow OFW who are going back to whichever country, please do not forget to look first for the OFW lounge and let your OEC be authenticated before entering the airport to avoid experiencing the “nightmare” I and others gone through.

Calling the attention of OWWA and POEA officials, please advise all satellite offices to properly inform OFWs about this "OEC Authentication". By the way, this get me to thinking; why the need to authenticate? Is there any "fake" OEC? Just asking the logic/reason behind the new policy.

Also, internet has been around for decades now, can't there be a system where records of all those who paid from whichever satellite office of OWWA be filed in a database and just access it?  So there will be no need for any certificates, just verification through the system.