MANILA – Newly installed Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan on Saturday said she will push for programs that prioritize the health and literacy of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“Kaka-upo ko lang po kahapon pero kinu-commit ko po sa inyo, ang pag-aaralan natin, paano palawakin ang scholarship, hindi lang para sa anak ng OFWs kundi sa mismong OFW (I just assumed office yesterday [Friday] but I commit to you, we will study how to expand the scholarship, not only for the children of OFWs but for OFWs themselves),” Caunan said at a weekly forum in Quezon City.
“Dalawa po iyan: Edukasyon at kalusugan. Meron po silang tutulungan na may sakit na kamag-anak nila or meron po silang pag-aaralin mga anak so dyan po tayo magfo-focus pero hindi po natin kakalimutan ang welfare o ‘yung repatriation, tulong (There are two issues: education and health. They have sick relatives to help or they have children to educate, so that’s what we’ll focus on, but we won’t forget their welfare or repatriation),” she added.
Caunan noted that some OFWs have multiple jobs and fall victims to illegal recruitment.
She also vowed to improve OWWA’s digital services to make it easier and faster for OFWs to transact with the agency and avail of existing programs.
Caunan took oath as the new OWWA administrator on Friday, replacing Arnell Ignacio.
Caunan confirmed that the alleged questionable PHP1.4-billion land acquisition deal of OWWA without approval from the Board of Trustees is being investigated by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
She said the land purchase deal under Ignacio’s watch would allegedly be used for a halfway house or dormitory-type accommodation for OFWs.
“[DMW] Secretary Hans Cacdac made a statement already, allow me to say this and as a lawyer, I would also say this. There’s an investigation [and we will] allow due process to take its course,” Caunan said.
“As the new administrator of OWWA, we will perform the necessary audit. We will seek the required legal opinion from the Department of Justice,” she added. (PNA)