Noy names new OWWA chief

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang announced yesterday that President Aquino has appointed a new administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), replacing Carmelita Dimzon who reportedly retired from government service.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Rebecca Calzado, a career official at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), OWWA’s mother agency, has taken over as administrator effective May 30.

Valte, however, could not categorically answer questions from Palace reporters on whether Dimzon resigned or retired from public service.

“I will check with (Labor) Secretary (Rosalinda) Baldoz,” she said.

“I will check if there is a fixed term also for administrator. I am not quite sure,” Valte said, adding that Calzado had served as DOLE assistant secretary and was previously designated deputy executive director of the National Wages and Productivity Council.

“I will ask about the exit status of the former OWWA administrator,” she promised.

The new OWWA chief obtained her economics degree from the University of the Philippines, where she also got her Master of Arts in economics.

Calzado yesterday said she is looking forward to serving the millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“As head of OWWA my primary clients are distressed OFWs, so we will strengthen the existing programs that have effectively helped them and look for more programs that we can offer them,” Calzado said.

Calzado said she would also ensure the integrity of OWWA’s P11-billion fund.

At this time, Calzado said she has no plan to reshuffle personnel and would also welcome recommendations from any sector, particularly OFW groups.

“My first goal really is to get to know the OWWA officers and employees, so I will request a meeting with them while awaiting my oath taking,” she noted.

She is set to take her oath before Secretary Baldoz, who will return from Geneva, Switzerland in two weeks.

Aquino also appointed lawyer Jose Fabia as new commissioner of the Commission on Audit (COA).

The Office of the President has already submitted Fabia’s appointment papers to the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Prior to his new appointment, Fabia was director general of the Philippine Information Agency, which is under the Presidential Communications Operations Office headed by Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.

Fabia is reportedly a former Pangasinan town mayor belonging to the Liberal Party.

He replaced University of the Philippines law professor Rowena Guanzon.

Guanzon is a former mayor of Cadiz City in Negros Occidental. She was appointed on March 8, 2013 with a term of office expiring on Feb. 2, 2020, the remainder of which Fabia would now serve.

She joined an all-woman audit body, whose two other members are Grace Pulido-Tan as chairman and Heidi Mendoza as commissioner. The CA failed to confirm the appointments of Mendoza and Guanzon.

Instead of reappointing her, Aquino chose to replace her.

4 new envoys named

Also yesterday, Valte disclosed the appointment of four new ambassadors – Domingo Nolasco to Italy, Wilfredo Santos to Qatar, Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek to Germany and Nathaniel Imperial to Israel.

Their nomination papers were all dated May 30, 2014.

A new DOLE undersecretary was also named, in the person of Reydeluz Conferido, who replaced Danilo Cruz.

Five members of the Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing under the Professional Regulation Commission have also been appointed – Gloria Arcos, Carmelita Divinagracia, Carfredda Dumlao, Florence Cawaon and Glenda Arquiza. – With Jess Diaz