Labor officials in the Kingdom have expressed confidence in the capability of former Labor Undersecretary Rebecca Calzado as the new administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
“She’s in a position to promote the welfare of OFWs because she has the necessary education, background and experience,” said Labor Attache Alex Padaen of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Eastern Region (POLO-ERO).
In an interview, Calzado said her priority would be the interest and concern of millions of OFWs. As an initial move, she will meet the OWWA team to discuss first the plans and programs of the previous administration.
However, OFWs in the Kingdom have expressed mixed reactions on the appointment of the 59-year-old Calzado.
“I don’t know her and I have not heard about her as a labor official so I can neither express optimism nor disappointment regarding her appointment. What I can say is for all OFWs to do our best in our job,” said Benny M. Quiambao, a Filipino community leader in Riyadh.
In Alkhobar, Eduardo Rodriguez, also a community leader, added, “I have not heard about her as an official looking after the welfare of OFWs. But with her background, I keep my fingers crossed that she’ll do her best for all OFWs.”
Rodriguez was also hoping that the new OWWA administrator will “make a difference considering that OFWs face various problems regarding their jobs overseas and their families back home in the Philippines.”
“One problem involves the household service workers (HSW) who have run away from their employer. Most of them couldn’t afford to buy plane tickets to go back home. OWWA should act on this immediately,” he said.
Another, he added, is the effective implementation of OWWA livelihood programs for returning OFWs who intend to set up businesses to make up for what they have lost after working overseas.
From Buraidah in Qassim, Dionisio B. Tabuco, also a Filipino community leader, added that he had not heard about Calzado but expressed optimism that she will initiate effective changes in favor of OFWs.
“I have not heard about Administrator Calzado as a labor officer. As OFWs in Qassim, we’re hoping that she will do her best. Administrator Carmelita Dimzon was good but we hope her replacement will be better,” he said.
Aside from being a former labor undersecretary, Calzado was also a deputy executive director 1V at the National Wages and Productivity Commission. She obtained her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of the Philippines (UP).
Calzado’s appointment was announced by deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte on Friday, replacing Carmelita Dimzon, who retired on May 30 after turning 65, the mandatory retirement age for all workers and officials in the government.
New overseas Filipino administration chief gets mixed reactions
