The Philippine Embassy informs all Filipino nationals in Cambodia that the 8th Multi-Agency Service Mission (MASM), originally set for the last quarter of 2017, will be re-scheduled in the first semester of 2018.

The postponement was deemed necessary in light of the recent announcement of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the issuance of new Philippine ePassports that will not have a validity of ten (10) years starting on 01 January 2018.

In addition to this, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration's (POEA) are currently undertaking a review of the country's direct hire policy, which may have implications on the issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) to direct hires, and on the new OFW ID.

The Embassy wishes to ensure that these recent policy changes/reviews are already put in place for implementation in order for the Filipino community to fully avail of the benefits and advantages of government frontline services and programs in the next MASM.

Philippine Embassy, Phnom Penh, 26 October 2017