MANILA: The Commission on Appointments (CA) approved on Tuesday the ad interim appointment of Hans Leo Cacdac as secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
Senator Grace Poe, during the plenary session, cited Cacdac’s over 23 years of public service experience in the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and until his designation as Undersecretary, and eventually as Officer-In-Charge, of the DMW.
“His most notable stints were being the Administrator of POEA and OWWA, serving and protecting the interest and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs),” Poe said.
“His vast understanding of labor and migration policies, coupled with his passion for serving our kababayans (countrymen) here and abroad, is truly worthy of admiration by everyone in the service,” she added.
Senator Joel Villanueva, who expressed his support to the appointment as co-sponsor, recalled how Cacdac ensured that OFWs receive n
eeded assistance from the government during the pandemic.
“Naniniwala po tayo na si Sec. Hans ang pinaka-nararapat sa posisyong ito, bilang isang anak ng mga OFWs (We believe that Sec. Hans is the most deserving of this position, as a son of OFWs),” Villanueva said,
Cacdac’s father was a World War II veteran who worked as a sound engineer, while his mother was a caregiver and daycare worker in the United States.
Dring the deliberations, Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel asked the panel to dismiss the oppositions by four individuals against Cacdac’s confirmation, citing them as baseless.
“I would like to move that these complaints or oppositors should not be allowed or rather should be disregarded and should not be allowed to attend this hearing anymore because of my premise that all of these allegations are baseless and unfounded,” Pimentel said.
One of the oppositors said Cacdac, during his capacity as OWWA administrator, should be held accountable for causing the hardship of OFWs during
the pandemic for the extended quarantine period.
Pimentel argued that the policy was imposed by the Task Force on Covid-19, not by Cacdac.
Another complainant was asking for accountability on the hacking incident in the digital system of the DMW, which Pimentel pointed out was beyond the control of Cacdac, as well as other government agencies that were also hacked.
Source: Philippines News agency
