President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed Migrant Workers Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan as the new administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), replacing Arnell Ignacio.

Caunan took her oath of office before Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Friday.

Prior to her appointment as OWWA administrator, Caunan served as Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation at the DMW from August 2022 to the present.

During her tenure as Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation, Caunan helped negotiate and facilitate the signing of 15 bilateral labor migration agreements since 2022.

Each agreement is aimed at strengthening the protection and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in partner countries, including Canada, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Finland, Denmark, Singapore, Croatia, Slovenia, and Kuwait.

Caunan also led a well-regarded law firm with expertise in labor, civil, administrative and criminal law. She has been an active advocate for migrant workers’ rights, extending free legal assistance and counsel through various forms. | PND