Filipinos who wanted to settle overseas or work temporarily abroad will have to undergo the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar. This is one of the requirements of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) before going abroad.
PDOS was conducted in person by a certified trainer but now, it can be done online. Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) through the partnership with Philippine Overseas Employment and Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) offers a free PDOS online in which an applicant can attend before departure.
Note: PDOS is different from PEOS (Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar). PEOS is for Filipinos who plan to work overseas. The PDOS is intended for Filipinos who have secured jobs but need to have an orientation before the actual departure to the assigned country.
To further your knowledge about the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar, here are the things you need to know about the PDOS.
Table of Contents
What is the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar?
The Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) is an orientation that is conducted before departure that provides a comprehensive guide to the OFWs before going abroad. It is a preparation for them for working overseas. This contains topics such as:
- Migration realities – This module presents the truth about working or settling abroad which is different than living and working in the Philippines. The Code of Discipline for OFWs is also discussed in this module.
- Destination country profile – This module presents the culture, beliefs, laws, and traditions of the country of destination as well as the working hours. The Do’s and Don’ts are also tackled in this module.
- Employment contract – This module includes the rights of an OFW as well as the obligations. You will be also advised on what to do if your contract is broken.
- Health and safety – Precautionary measures about the health and well-being of an OFW.
- Financial literacy – In this module, you will be taught about saving a portion of your salary and investing in preparation for your retirement.
- Available government programs/services for OFWs – This module includes the list of programs and services you can avail of from OWWA and other government agencies.
- Tips and tricks for travel procedures – This includes the Do’s and Don’ts when going abroad.
Types of PDOS Programs
There are 2 types of PDOS seminars – the Country Specific PDOS and Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP).
Country-Specific PDOS is a one-day session for the OFWs or emigrants going to a specific country for example, there is a PDOS seminar specifically for OFWs going to the United Arab Emirates.
Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP), on the other hand, is a one-week program intended for Household Service Workers (HSWs) or Domestic Workers. This program includes all of the modules in Country Specific PDOS plus several modules such as: Finding work and coping up with the realities of life in a new country, Resolving, conflict and improving relationships, Understanding your role as an OFW, Working with other organizations such as non-government, community, and faith-based organizations abroad, Preparing for reintegration upon return to the Philippines.
But since the pandemic, a worker or an emigrant can attend the PDOS online which lasts several hours depending on the flow of the orientation.
What is Online PDOS – Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar?
CFO together with POEA and OWWA offers an online PDOS in which an applicant can access easily through a mobile phone or desktop. CFO offers PDOS for emigrants while OWWA offers PDOS for temporary workers abroad.
This is considered an electronic orientation seminar for OFWs. An applicant can enroll anytime but must finish the program before his/her departure date. The online PDOS is open to all overseas Filipino workers but is limited per country or destination since there are restrictions.
How does Online PDOS Work?
The online orientation seminar can be accessed through a mobile phone or desktop by downloading the CFO Mobile App. After registration, the program will guide you throughout your entire orientation including taking notes, writing your own profile
Benefits
These are the benefits of attending this orientation:
- Knowledge about the culture of the country of destination
- Awareness of the reality of working and settlement abroad
These are the benefits that can be availed by using the CFO’s online service(PDOS):
- Cost-effective
- Accessible anytime and anywhere
- Saves time and energy
- User-friendly interface for easy accessibility
Requirements
The requirements for attending this orientation are the following:
For Temporary Workers/OFWs/Household Service Workers (Domestic Workers):
- Original and Photocopy of Passport and Employment contract
- Endorsement(coming from recruitment agency)
- 25$ OWWA membership fee but PDOS is free
- Mobile phone or desktop
- Internet Connection
For Emigrants:
- Valid passport
- Valid visa
- Valid ID with a photo
- Payment registration of Php 400.
- Attendance in the PDOS session
- Country-specific documents(For Emigrants)
- Immigrant Data Summary ( US)
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence( Canada)
- Nulla Osta ( Italy )
- Certificate of Eligibility ( Japan)
- Visa Grant Notifications (Australia)
- Letter of approval for Work to Residence visa ( New Zealand )
- Mobile phone or desktop
- Internet Connection
Qualifications
This is open to all OFWs and emigrants. 12 years old and under as well as 60 years older and above are exempted from attending PDOS.
How to Attend Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar for Household Workers
Here is the comprehensive guide on registration for attending PDOS (Household Service Workers/Domestic Workers):
Step 1: You will be scheduled for the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar by your recruitment agency.
Step 2: You will be informed immediately by the agency when the PDOS will be conducted. So, be prepared and download the Zoom app or click here for direct downloading via the Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings).
Step 3: Attend the seminar and take down notes about the important details.
Step 4: After finishing the orientation, you will have your certificate. Present it at the airport.
NOTE: The recruitment agency will be in charge of the appointment of schedule in attending the PDOS. No need to worry about this.
How to Attend Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar for Household Workers for Emigrants
Step 1: Search ‘CFO Online PDOS Account Creation’ on the web or you may visit this link to redirect you to the site: https://cfo.ph/Online_PDOS_Account_Creation/ .
Step 2: Register by selecting and filling up the needed information. You need to answer the following questions by selecting from the drop-down choices:
- How are you related to your petitioner/sponsor?
- What is your Country of Destination?
- What is your visa type/category/classification?
You need to fill up your active email address and re-enter.
You also need to upload the following documents:
- Visa Copy
- Passport Copy
Hit ‘Submit’ to proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Check your email inbox or the spam folder to find the message from CFO. The message contains the requirements to be sent to the assigned CFO officer. Valid Passport, Valid Visa/Valid Visa Grand Notice, and Valid ID must be sent in order for you to be scheduled for the PDOS webinar.
Step 4: After attending the webinar, you will receive an email that contains the link for registration. Click the link and you will be redirected to the next page which is the CFO Online Registration Form.
Step 5: Fill up the two-paged CFO Online Registration Form with the details necessary and make sure it is correct. After filling up the first page, hit ‘Save’ and ‘Next’. After entering the information needed on the second page, click ‘Save’ and the ‘Preview’ button.
Step 6: Click ‘Continue for the Payment’ on the preview page. Enter the reference number, name, contact number, and location of delivery.
Step 7: Pay the 400 pesos registration fee at Bayad Centers or using e-wallets. Select your mode of payment and click ‘Proceed’.
Payment thru Bayad Center
- Use the 10-digit reference number. It has a 72-hour validity from the time you selected the mode for payment.
- Tell the cashier to process the payment under MPay biller.
- Pay using cash the exact amount. Any excess amount will not be refunded and any less than 400 will not be processed.
- Expect an email from CFO for the confirmation of your payment.
Payment thru Gcash
- Select ‘Pay Online’ on the Delivery Details page.
- Select mode of payment ‘Gcash Webpay’ and hit ‘proceed’.
- Confirm the payment. Click ‘Agree and Pay’.
- A receipt from Gcash will be shown with the transaction details.
Step 8: Send a copy of your receipt, passport, and visa to their email ( ofcors.payment@cfo.gov.ph)
Step 9: Payment and registration confirmation will be sent to you with the OF-CORS temporary certificate.
Step 10: The tracking number will be sent to your email when you already received your documents sent to you by the CFO.
Step 11: Present this at the airport as a clearance together with your OEC.
Video: Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar Guide
Here is the link for the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar guide for Household Service Workers/Domestic Workers.
This discusses the content of the modules, reminders before attending the PDOS, and also the FAQs about PDOS.
This is the YouTube video link for the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar guide for Emigrants.
This tackles the confusing information about the CFO Online PDOS such as the blue form(for fiancee etc.) and pink form(emigrants), the principal applicant(immigrant worker) and dependents(emigrants), schedule of online PDOS, and payment for registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
To know more about the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar, here are the following FAQs for your reference.
1. Who is exempted from attending the PDOS?
Minors aged 12 years old below and adults ages 60 above are exempted.
2. Do I need to pay if I’m applying as a domestic helper?
No, because it will be handled by your recruitment agency. All you have to do is to attend the orientation and take down notes.
3. Do I need to show my PDOS certificate at the airport?
For a first-timer, yes, you must. But if you are a Balik Manggagawa, there is no need for you to show the certificate.
4. Do I need to attend the PDOS if I have a student visa?
Yes, you must attend the PDOS since it is also required for all international or exchange students.
5. How about a tourist visa holder? Do I also need to attend?
Yes, you must attend since it is required for all the Filipinos who will be exiting the country to work or settle abroad.
Summary
Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar is one of the clearance to exit the country. Attending a PDOS seminar makes you prepared and well-equipped with the knowledge about what to expect in the country of your destination. The topics included in the orientation will be your weapon to face the challenges of settling or working abroad, away from your country of origin.
So this is the process of applying and attending the PDOS Seminar. As of today, it is required by the government for all Filipinos departing the country. This is a way for the government to keep us safe from all kinds of danger that may befall us while we are outside the borders.
We hope that this PDOS guide will give you a better understanding of what to expect for this seminar and may you attend this as a newbie so as to learn important reminders. It is a great opportunity for us Filipinos who will depart from the country every day to work abroad and send our earnings to our families.