PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has appointed television personality Arnaldo Arevalo “Arnell” Ignacio as head of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Press Secretary Rose Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles confirmed the appointment of Ignacio, who will replace Hans Leo Cacdac.

“We confirm the appointment of Mr. Ignacio as executive director administrator V of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration,” Cruz-Angeles said in a statement.

Ignacio was appointed as assistant vice president for the community relation and services department of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. in 2016 during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Subsequently, he was named OWWA deputy administrator in 2018 but resigned in February 2019, citing “personal reasons.”

“He was reappointed in September of last year to the same post and will now occupy the position of administrator, vice Hans Cacdac who will be serving as undersecretary of DMW (Department of Migrant Workers) on Welfare and Foreign Employment,” Cruz-Angeles added.

Ignacio thanked Marcos in a Facebook post.

“Maraming salamat sa tiwala, Mr. PBBM, at sa aking mga kasama sa OWWA (Thank you very much for the trust, Mr. PBBM [President Marcos], and my colleagues in the OWWA) and all the stakeholders,” his post read.

Meanwhile, Cruz-Angeles said outgoing Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator Bernard Olalia will be the officer in charge (OIC) of the agency.

“POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia will be undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication. He will be the OIC of POEA until such time that the department is deemed fully constituted on the approval of the 2023 budget,” she said.