Latest news with #Cuanan
GMA Network
02-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
OWWA: 21 OFWs from Israel to arrive in PH on July 3
Twenty-one overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel are set to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Thursday, July 3, 2025, as part of the ongoing government repatriation program in response to tensions in the Middle East. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan confirmed the arrival and emphasized the Philippine government's continued commitment to monitoring and assisting OFWs affected by the regional conflict. 'Bukas po, may paparating po tayo na 21 pa na galing Israel at sa Sabado po may parating na 15 at inaasahan pa tayong 28 na darating," Cuanan said at the Bagong Pilipinas public briefing on Wednesday. (Tomorrow, 21 OFWs from Israel will be arriving, with 15 more expected on Saturday and 28 more in the coming days.) Since tensions escalated in Israel, over 373 OFWs have contacted OWWA to express their intention to return home, though only 26 have finalized their decision to be repatriated as of this week. 'Pero after namin sila tawag-tawagan sa OWWA, kami nga ang nangungulit, ay 26 pa lang ang repatriated o nag-desisyon na bumalik sa Pilipinas,' said Cuanan. (But after following up with them—it's really us who are persistently checking—only 26 have actually been repatriated or decided to return to the Philippines.) Administrator Cuanan assured that despite a ceasefire and the lowering of Israel's alert level to 2, the Philippine government continues to monitor developments across the Middle East, particularly in countries with large Filipino populations such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait. 'Patuloy na nagmo-monitor ang gobyerno sa sitwasyon sa Gitnang Silangan... Marami tayong kababayan sa Israel, almost more than 30,000.' (The government continues to monitor the situation in the Middle East... We have over 30,000 Filipinos in Israel.) Apart from Israel, eight OFWs from Iran also recently returned home, and more are expected to follow. Administrator Caunan then detailed the assistance provided to returning OFWs such as medical support, financial aid, accommodation, and psychosocial counseling. She highlighted specific cases, such as a pregnant OFW and another diagnosed with cancer. 'Meron tayong sinalubong na buntis at sabi ni Sec. Herbosa, Department of Health ang sasagot ng lahat ng gagastusin niya sa kanyang panganganak. Meron din tayong kababayan na bumalik na may cancer... tutulungan sa libreng pagamot ng ating gobyerno.' (We welcomed a pregnant OFW, and Secretary Herbosa of the Department of Health promised full support for her childbirth. We also had a returnee with cancer who will receive free treatment from the government.) She also mentioned interest among returnees in starting anew, where some are exploring entrepreneurship, while others inquire about local and overseas job opportunities. 'Very interested kami sa upskilling and job matching. Mayroong 8 million online jobs available at may libreng training para ma-qualify dito.' (We're very interested in upskilling and job matching. There are 8 million online jobs available with free training to help them qualify.) She affirmed that a partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is underway to support this effort. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
17-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Sacked OWWA chief Ignacio's P1.4-B land deal under probe — DMW
The alleged anomalous P1.4-billion land acquisition deal of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), which supposedly did not have approval by the agency's Board of Trustees, is now under investigation by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). "[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… I will allow due process to take its course," DMW Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne "PJ" Caunan said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. On Friday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac told GMA News Online that former OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio was removed from his post on the count of "loss of trust and confidence" due to the alleged anomalous P1.4-billion land acquisition deal he entered into but was not authorized by the OWWA Board. Cuanan is replacing Ignacio as administrator of the OWWA. "As the new administrator of OWWA, we will perform the necessary audit, we will seek the required legal opinion from the Department of Justice and we will engage with the Commission on Audit," she said. The new OWWA chief said the land purchase deal under the agency's previous leadership was supposed to be for a "half-way house" or a dormitory-type accommodation of overseas Filipino workers to be located near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1. Cacdac earlier said the agreement was entered into last September 2024. "Let's go back to OWWA law. It says there that the power to purchase a real property… the approval should be with the Board of Trustees of OWWA and the Chairman of the Board is the Secretary of DMW, the Vice Chair is the OWWA Administrator. So the regular process or what is expected is that purchases should go through the Board of Trustees," Caunan said. In a phone interview with reporters, Ignacio said he would address the matter in a proper forum as he declined to provide a statement in the meantime. The axed OWWA administrator, however, expressed "shock" about the ongoing developments. OFW Fund intact Amid the controversy surrounding the land purchase deal, Cuanan said the P1.4-billion fund "did not come from the trust fund." She was referring to the OWWA Fund, a pool of funds coming from contributions of member-OFWs, seafarers, and their employers. Budget documents showed the 2025 OWWA Fund stands at P2.973 billion. This is on top of the P3.409-billion fund for the agency under the General Appropriations Act (GAA). "So it's with the government budget, the GAA. So intact 'yung pera nu'ng trust fund. Hindi ito trust fund para wala na parang paninisi, diretsuhin ko na," Caunan said. (So it's with the government budget, the GAA. So the money for the trust fund is intact. It's not a trust fund that—, let me be frank, as if others are being blamed.) "The OFW Fund is sacred… we are very serious about… We take this very seriously," she said. Asked if there are other officials being probed, the new OWW chief said, "What we can say is that I think there is an investigation already..." Cacdac earlier said that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has already been informed about the issue and that "there will be a corresponding case to be filed in the appropriate office or authority." — VDV, GMA Integrated News
