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MANILA, Philippines — The fight for the post continues despite Department of Immigration and Labor Undersecretary Hans Kakdak being temporarily appointed as DMW Director following the death of Secretary Susan “Toots” Opple last month. ing.
During a hearing on the DMW budget bill by the Senate Finance Subcommittee presided over by Sen. JV Ejesito, Sen. Raffy Tulfo said there are people competing for the top positions in government agencies.
Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Immigrant Workers Committee, said in particular that he had received information that supporters of DMW Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Conan were planning to hold a rally calling for her to become head of the department. It pointed out.
Mr. Tulfo told Ms. Counan to discourage her supporters from holding rallies because there would be trouble if she was appointed DMW secretary.
“Tell the people not to rally in the Senate to boost your (support). We know what we are doing. No one can influence me. . Even if they fall there…we senators have an independent spirit and cannot be influenced to support anyone,” Tulfo said, addressing Counnan.
The senator pointed out that if Mr. Caunan’s supporters wish to hold a rally, they can do so in Malacañang because the president has the power and prerogative to appoint the DMW secretary.
“Everyone in the DMW is qualified, so there is no need to rally supporters outside the Senate,” Tulfo said.
But Counan said this was the first time he had heard about efforts to replace Opple as the next DMW chief.
“Personally, if there is someone who has expressed support, anyone within the department can serve as DMW Director based on the trust and confidence of the President, but Mr. Chairman, for our part, As one of the undersecretaries chosen by the deceased, you will assume the post of Director of DMW. Secretary Ople, we just need to do our jobs and serve the OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). We’re focused on making sure that we do that,” Counan said to Tulfo.
“If any group or OFW approaches me and their plan is to hold a rally, I would discourage them,” Counan added.
The senator also asked DMW officials if President Marcos knew that she was a former lawyer for a recruitment agency, to which Kaunan responded that she was also a lawyer for various OFW groups.
Other names
Despite Cacdac’s recent appointment, there are still a number of names being floated as potential candidates for the DMW’s next chief.
These include Silvestre Bello III, former head of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and current head of the Manila Economic and Cultural Authority, and Abdullah Mamao, who himself served as interim head of the DMW.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Secretary Arnel Ignacio and the agency’s former administrator May Dimzon are also among those reportedly being considered for the next DMW chief.
Current DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia and Anthonette Velasco-Allones are reportedly candidates for the position left vacant by Opple’s death.
Opple’s daughter Estelle is also attracting attention as a possible successor to her mother.
The local recruitment industry is leaving it up to Mr Marcos to decide whether to appoint Mr Kakdak as permanent head of DMW.
“President Marcos has the ability to choose very evenly the members of the official family who run his administration. Colorless,” said the recruiting leader.
confidential funds
At the same Senate hearing, Tulfo also expressed support for providing P25 million in confidential funds to the DWM to go after scammers, deceptive recruitment agencies and those who extort money from OFWs. .
“I don’t agree with the suggestion of giving secret funds to various government agencies… But for me, maybe it’s time to give secret funds to this DMW. Why? There’s a need to expose it. There are so many illegal recruitment agencies and illegal recruitment agencies and so many scammers who victimize OFWs and extort money from them,” he said.
“We need intelligence, and DMW needs intelligence to go after them, to go after illegal recruiters, to go after illegal recruitment agencies, to go after these fraudsters. I believe we should have,” he added.
DMW had originally requested a budget of P29 billion for next year.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) allocated P15.309 billion, of which P3.359 billion went to the Office of the Secretary and the remaining P11.949 billion to OWWA, an affiliated agency of the DMW.
DMW reportedly asked for P10 million in confidential funds, but DBM did not allow it.
“Maybe we can start with a small amount. From P25 million to P50 million, I don’t know…To be fair, let’s give it to the DMW as well. Not because I am the chairman of the DMW. , we saw a need,” Tulfo said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said there is nothing wrong with allocating secret funds to DMW, but the agency will first ensure that the current Office of Immigrant Worker Protection is able to eliminate fraudsters and abusive recruiters. He pointed out that it is necessary to prove that they are carrying out their enforcement duties.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva agreed with Pimentel.
“If we were to set aside a secret fund, we still don’t know the rationale or basis for it. We can’t do it without the bureau that we set up to do this task,” Villanueva said. .
DMW Undersecretary Allones told the committee: “I would be doing a personal disservice to Secretary Toots if I did not go on record that during her lifetime she opposed the acceptance of classified funds to the DMW because she believed that ” …If we cooperate with law enforcement, we will accomplish our mission. ”
Ejercito supported strengthening the DMW in exchange for the proposed allocation of P20 million in confidential funds to the DMW.
“The Secretariat could instead be strengthened under Undersecretary Bernard Olalia. The DMW is effective anyway. So there is no need to spend on secrecy or intelligence. We can set an example of a private sector that does not need this. let’s.”
The senator stressed that requests for classified and intelligence funds may be better left to national security departments. — Mayen Jaymarin, Evelyn McAlan
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