Patricia Yvonne Caunan, a seasoned labor lawyer and public servant, has been appointed as the new Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., succeeding Arnell Ignacio.
Background and legal career
Caunan is a seasoned lawyer specializing in labor, civil, administrative, and criminal law. She has led a law firm and has been an active advocate for migrant workers’ rights, providing free legal aid and counsel through various platforms.
Role at the Department of Migrant Workers
Before her appointment at OWWA, Caunan served as the Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) since 2022. In this role, she played a pivotal role in negotiating and finalizing 15 bilateral labor agreements aimed at enhancing the protection and welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in countries such as Canada, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Kuwait.
Vision for OWWA
As the new OWWA Administrator, Caunan is expected to leverage her extensive experience in labor law and international cooperation to further the agency’s mission of protecting and promoting the welfare of OFWs and their families. Her appointment is seen as a continuation of her commitment to the welfare of OFWs, focusing on strengthening international labor agreements and ensuring the protection of Filipino workers worldwide.
Caunan took her oath of office before Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, who lauded her as “a trailblazer” in the field of international labor cooperation.
