Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople has appointed the administrators of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) as her undersecretaries.
Relatedly, OWWA’s new chief will be OWWA deputy administrator and former television host Arnell Ignacio. Ignacio has been OWWA deputy administrator in September 2021. He used to work in OWWA in 2018 for one year but had to take a leave because his father passed away and had to take care of family matters.
“Arnell knows the difficulties of being an OFW. Nag-Japan ’yan din before a front act ng mga banda,” Ople told media in a Viber message.
POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia was appointed DMW undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services. He will remain office-in-charge of the POEA until such time that the DMW is deemed fully constituted upon approval of its 2023 budget.
Erstwhile OWWA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac will serve as undersecretary for Welfare and Foreign Employment. He will oversee the DMW’s Aksyon Fund, which will be used to help distressed OFWs in various countries.
Cacdac is a veteran of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and OWWA for 21 years. Olalia has been with DOLE and POEA for more than five years.
“This mix of familiar faces and new names reflects our desire for continuity and innovation. The DMW’s ‘dream team’ is now in place, and we vow to serve out OFWs faithfully and with utmost professionalism,” Ople said.
Another seasoned official in the DMW family is Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, who was appointed Undersecretary for Finance and Internal Affairs. She has been in the civil service for 31 years, being a former DOLE Assistant Secretary during the Arroyo administration. She was head of the Tourism Promotion Board prior to her latest appointment.
Coming from the private sector is Atty. Patricia Yvonne M. Caunan, who was appointed as Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation. Caunan worked from a law firm specializing in labor, civil, administrative, and criminal cases, and an advocate for migrant worker’s rights giving free legal assistance and advice in various forums.
Also, another “new face” joining Ople’s DMW team is Venecio Legaspi, a former OFW for 29 years in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, who will serve as Assistant Secretary for Reintegration.
“Ka Vennie” rose from the ranks to become vice president of a prominent Saudi bank in Jeddah before retiring and joining the DMW. Ople said his wife died while he was in Jeddah and wasn’t able to come home while she was sick.
Other key appointments include:
Jerome A. Alcantara—Assistant Secretary for Land-based Services and concurrently Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary Levinson C. Alcantara—Assistant Secretary for Pre-employment Services Felicitas Q. Bay—Assistant Secretary for Migrant Workers Welfare Services Francis Ron C. de Guzman—Assistant Secretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services Jerome T. Pampolina—Assistant Secretary Sea-based Services Violeta D. Illescas—Assistant Secretary for Internal Management and Administration. With Samuel P. Medenilla