Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has assigned Rustico de la Fuente and Jainal Rasul Jr. as new labor attachés in Riyadh and Jeddah, respectively.

De la Fuente will replace Adam Musa as the head of Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) in Riyadh. Alex Padaen, the current POLO head in Jeddah, will assist him.

“De la Fuente worked his way up the ranks and became a veteran point person in the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for 32 years since 1981,” Baldoz said.

De la Fuente said he would focus on the protection of female overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia and improve the services of POLO by coordinating with OFWs in the Kingdom.

Rasul, who was earlier posted in Riyadh, will replace Padaen as POLO head in Jeddah. “Rasul also rose from the ranks and became a highly respected official known for his ability to properly handle POLO operations,” Baldoz said.

Rasul had earlier worked in POLO London from 2005 to 2011, besides serving as assistant labor attaché in Libya from 1996 to 1999.