President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has designated television personality Arnell Ignacio as chief of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Palace confirmed Wednesday.
Ignacio will replace outgoing OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac, who will be serving as Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary on welfare and foreign employment.
“We confirm the appointment of Mr. Ignacio as Executive Director Admin. V of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration,” said Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles.
Ignacio served as Assistant Vice President for the Community Relations and Services Department of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in 2016 under the administration of then President Rodrigo Duterte.
He was transferred to OWWA to serve as a deputy executive director in 2018. Ignacio resigned from his post in February 2019 citing “personal reasons.”
In April 2019, Ignacio announced that he graduated with a political science degree from the University of Makati.
Malacañang has yet to release a copy of Ignacio’s appointment paper.
Meanwhile, Cruz-Angeles said Bernard Olalia, head of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), would serve as the agency’s officer in charge (OIC).
“POEA Admin. Bernard Olalia will be Usec. for Licensing and Adjudication. He will be the OIC of POEA until such time that the department is deemed fully constituted on the approval of the 2023 budget,” she said.
Cruz-Angeles added that Venecio Legaspi, a former migrant worker, has also been appointed as assistant secretary for reintegration.
“For reintegration, a former OFW for 29 years – Venecio Legaspi, who worked for several years in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has been appointed. He rose from the ranks to assume the post of vice president in a prominent Saudi Bank,” Cruz-Angeles said.
The OWWA, an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment, is mandated to protect and promote the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.