A “dream team” is in place at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to serve overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople said on Wednesday as she announced the appointment of key officials.

She described the appointees as “a mix of seasoned government officials and new faces who share a commitment to serve our OFWs.” They include Bernard Olalia and Hans Leo Cacdac, who served as administrators of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), respectively.

Olalia was named undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services. He will remain as officer in charge of the POEA until such time that the DMW is deemed fully constituted upon the approval of its 2023 budget.

Cacdac, on the other hand, will serve as undersecretary for Welfare and Foreign Employment. He will oversee the department’s Aksyon Fund, which will be used to help distressed OFWs in various countries.

Another official is Undersecretary Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones who has been in the civil service for 31 years. She was a former DoLE assistant secretary during the Arroyo administration and head of the Tourism Promotion Board.

The new faces are Patricia Yvonne Caunan and Venecio Legaspi.

Caunan headed a law firm specializing in labor, civil, administrative and criminal cases. She is an advocate for migrant workers’ rights giving free legal assistance and advice in various forums.

Caunan has been appointed as DMW Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation.

Legaspi, a former OFW for 29 years, will serve as assistant secretary for reintegration.

Other key appointments include Jerome Alcantara as assistant secretary for Land-based Services and concurrently chief of staff at the Office of the Secretary; Levinson Alcantara as assistant secretary for Pre-employment Services; Felicitas Bay as assistant secretary for Migrant Workers Welfare Services; Francis Ron de Guzman as assistant secretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services; Jerome Pampolina as assistant secretary for Seabased Services; and Violeta Illescas as assistant secretary for Internal Management and Administration.

“Together, we will make the DMW a secure home for our OFWs and their families,” Ople said.

“This mix of familiar faces and new names reflect our desire for continuity and innovation. The DMW’s ‘dream team’ is now in place, and we vow to serve our OFWs faithfully and with utmost professionalism,” she added.