Ano ito, joke lang?,” an irate Villanueva said. He and another AMCB officer, Dolores Balladares, met Secretary Bello during his visit to Hong Kong in May, and he assured them that the iDOLE, which was meant to replace the much-maligned overseas employment certificate, would be free of charge. Bello repeated the assurance when he held a media briefing on July 4 to announce the impending launch of the OFW ID.
Sa kanyang pahayag noong Hulyo 4, sinabi ni Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III na ang pinakahihintay na OFW ID card ay siyang magiging kapalit ng overseas employment certificate ang mga manggagawa.