With humility, I receive the news of my ad interim appointment as Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers.

I am deeply humbled by the trust and confidence bestowed upon me by His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to personally steward over millions of our beloved overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

As Secretary, I shall further dedicate myself to safeguarding the rights and welfare of our dear OFWs who, in the words of the President, represent the very best of our beloved country. I am committed to ensuring their fair treatment, protection, and support, with due attention given to OFW families.

We shall further strengthen, broaden, and deepen the DMW as the “Tahanan ng OFWs” enshrined by Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople.

We shall continue to adhere to a rights-based approach and ensure the utmost protection of our OFWs’ human and employment rights.

We shall work further to maximize the gains of our OFWs’ employment and enable them as co-architects of national development through effective, full-cycle reintegration programs.

We vow to be transparent, accountable, and responsive, faithfully adhering to good governance and the President’s vision of a Bagong Pilipinas.

Toward these ends, we shall further undertake, among others, the following:

1. Streamline and digitalize OFW-protective processes to ensure greater OFW convenience and more efficient operations by stakeholders in overseas employment;

2. Perform regulatory functions for purposes of safe, fair, and ethical recruitment and to combat illegal recruitment and human trafficking;

3. Help OFWs protect and leverage their income as aggressively as we protect their rights through popularized and widespread financial education and literacy, financial inclusivity, anti-fraud campaigns, increased interest in the Philippine stock market, and development of livelihood or entrepreneurial endeavors;

4. Develop career, employment, and entrepreneurship pathways for OFWs in partnership with relevant government agencies and the private sector;

5. Develop skills upgrading or development pathways for OFWs, especially those in lower income levels;

6. Establish programs for senior OFWs;

7. Pursue deeper bilateral labor relations with OFW host countries, which includes measures on safe, transparent, and fair labor mobility, as well as the development of “giving back mechanisms” through investments and brain gain initiatives in partnership with relevant government agencies;

8. Proactively participate in regional and multilateral fora, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), to further advance migrant workers’ rights, protection and development;

9. Develop DMW central and regional offices and MWOs (Migrant Workers’ Offices) as Centers of Competence, Integrity, and Excellence, which includes a vigorous anti-corruption and anti-fixer campaign; and,

10. Continue to provide fora and avenues for social dialogue with stakeholders in overseas employment, including discussions on policy development and the exercise of rule-making authority.

I am confident that we in the DMW, working together with other government agencies under the President’s leadership, can positively impact the lives of our migrant workers. In so doing, we can achieve the broader goals and objectives of Bagong Pilipinas – a new, vibrant, and collective nation-building effort for our people.

I take on this task as a tribute to my predecessor and dear friend, the late Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople, whose passion, vision, work ethic, and leadership will continue to be a beacon for our Department. I look forward to further building upon the legacy she began.

To my fellow workers in the Department of Migrant Workers, let us work together to build our beloved OFWs’ home in government. Kapit-bisig at sama-sama nating isakatuparan at itaguyod ang ating Tahanan ng OFW.

Let us all strive to create a haven and sanctuary where every OFW feels valued, respected, and empowered.

Once again, my profuse gratitude for this opportunity to serve with unwavering commitment and passion.

𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝐋𝐄𝐎 𝐉. 𝐂𝐀𝐂𝐃𝐀𝐂

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲

𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬