DoLE Undersecretary Cacdac assumes POEA chief post

Hans Leo Cacdac, Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) undersecretary for labor relations, formally assumed office on Monday, as the new administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), replacing former administrator Carlos Cao, Jr.

Cacdac assumed office after a simple turnover ceremony at the Patricia Sto. Tomas Hall of the Blas F. Ople Building on Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City, attended by DoLE Undersecretary Danilo Cruz, POEA OIC Deputy Administrators Jaime Jimenez and Candida Vistro, other DoLE officials, and members of the POEA directorate.

DA Jimenez led the members of the directorate in turning over to Administrator Cacdac the POEA flag, the official symbol of POEA authority. Outgoing administrator Cao, Jr. begged off from attending the turnover due to personal reasons. Administrator Cacdac last week took the oath of office as the new POEA administrator before DoLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.

Immediately buckling down to work, Administrator Cacdac convened a meeting of the POEA directorate and bared his priorities as POEA head.

“The beginning of the New Year carries renewed strength and determination to pursue our roles in nation-building. As POEA administrator, I shall focus on seven priority areas under my stewardship,” he said, adding “I will work on the following:

— streamline OFW documentation and processing systems to provide more efficient services delivery to OFWs. We shall regain public confidence in our systems, starting with the restoration of the POEA’s ISO certification;

— strengthen enforcement of anti-illegal recruitment laws and licensed recruitment regulations. We shall implement RA 10022, which heightened the POEA’s role in the fight against illegal recruiters;

— ensure transparency and accountability in the development of policies and regulations. This means institutionalized consultative mechanisms involving stakeholders in the sea-based and land-based sectors;

— further protection of certain types of OFWs, such as domestic workers and seafarers. This includes pushing for the ratification of the ILO Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers and the Maritime Labor Convention;

— vigorous pursuit of bilateral agreements with receiving countries for the better protection and welfare of OFWs;

— stronger and more harmonious coordination with government agencies; and

— ensure measures that implement and promote anti-corruption, anti-fixer, anti-red tape rules and regulations, including the operationalization of the POEA Efficiency and Integrity Board.” PNA

Cacdac, prior to joining the government service, served the poor and the underprivileged townsfolk by providing legal expertise as associate lawyer of –Daily Tribune