MANILA, Philippines – Former representative Prospero Pichay and three others are being considered as the next chief of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Sources from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said among those in the shortlist with Pichay are former labor undersecretary Anthonette Allones, former OWWA deputy administrator Angelo Jimenez and Riyadh-based doctor Mohamad Ali Carlito Astillero.
“There are four of them in the list but Jimenez and Allones are the strong contenders,” a source said.
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque confirmed that Jimenez and Pichay are in the short-list.
“There is a shortlist, but we still do not know until this time who will be appointed,” he said.
He made no recommendation to President Arroyo, he added.
Meanwhile, Filipino workers in Kuwait have launched an on-line signature campaign calling on President Arroyo to appoint Jimenez OWWA administrator.
“For us, OWWA, despite its many imperfections, is still critical to our welfare and protection,” the workers said.
“We believe that it should be headed by a person who already knows the job, who would be able to run it as soon as he or she is seated.”
Jimenez was able to ensure the safety and welfare of OFWs when he was the labor attaché in Kuwait, according to the Filipino workers.
Roque was OWWA administrator before he was named labor secretary.
Ricafort is CHED OIC
Commissioner Nona Saldana-Ricafort assumed yesterday as officer-in-charge of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
“We had started many great projects during the time of Secretary (Romulo) Neri, and I will see to it that these are implemented properly and effectively for the benefit of the thousands of students in our 111 state colleges and universities,” Ricafort said.
Ricafort holds master’s and doctorate degrees in Philosophy specializing in Organizational Development from the Southeast Asian Inter-disciplinary Institute.
She is also a commissioner of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization-Philippines; a member of the Philippine National Red Cross board of governors, a governor of the National Book Development Board, a member of the board of advisers of the Microsoft Partners in Learning program, and member of the board of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Acting chairman Romulo Neri will take over as president and chairman of the Social Security System tomorrow.
In his farewell speech, Neri said his almost one year stint as CHED acting chairman was “memorable” and “meaningful.”
It enabled him to sit as chairman of the board of regents of his alma mater while it celebrated its centennial anniversary this year, he added.
He was offered the Department of Finance but he declined, Neri said.
The turnover ceremonies were held at the new CHED central office in the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City in compliance with a directive from Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. – With Rainier Allan Ronda