MANILA, 17 November 2002 — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has appointed Virgilio Angelo as head of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), replacing Wilhelm Soriano who resigned in August.
Angelo, a banker and touted as an investment expert, was formerly general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Presidential chief of staff and spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao confirmed that Angelo’s appointment had been signed yesterday.
“I want to help the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) feel the helping hand of the government by providing them with better services,” Angelo told Arab News. At the moment, Angelo said he will study the workings of OWWA and will assume office on Tuesday.
“We have to improve the fund in order to sustain the service and benefit the largest number of beneficiaries,” Angelo said. After all, he added, “the more the fund improves the more you will be able to help OFWs.”
According to Angelo, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas had just told him her office had already sent him by telefax a copy of his appointment.
Angelo is known to be a close friend of first gentleman Miguel Arroyo.
Francisco Aguilar Jr., president and general manager of FMW Human Resources International and co-convenor of the Filipino Migrant Workers Group, claimed Angelo was appointed last month but this did not materialize until yesterday because many groups of OFWs were blocking the appointment.
Angelo’s predecessor, Soriano, went on sick leave last August and never returned. Sto. Tomas and Soriano were often at odds over the running of OWWA, principally over the investments entered into using contributions from OFWs without board approval.
Sto. Tomas had these investigated by the Philippine Anti-Graft Courts (PAGC) but no charges were ever filed specifically against Soriano. The OWWA is said to have lost a total of 1.2 billion pesos over such failed investments, part of which were made when Soriano was first made OWWA head. Soriano resigned from the agency in 1998 and became congressman of Pangasinan. He was given the OWWA post last year in exchange for giving way to Jose de Venecia, who is now the speaker of the House.
