DMW chief Ople breezes past CA

The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday approved the ad interim appointment of Susan “Toots” Ople as the first head of the newly created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) after a hearing that lasted just over an hour. In her appearance before the panel, Ople vowed to help the DMW fulfill its mandate of bringing a stronger mantle of protection for more than 10.5 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) spread in various countries all over the world. Ople said her confirmation will allow her to fly to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia next week to visit OFW shelters there and discuss pending claims of around 10,000 displaced workers, and to look at potential job opportunities “with greater safeguards against abuse and exploitation.” Ople, daughter of the late Blas Ople who served as labor secretary and Senate President in the 70s and 80s, was lauded by CA members as the “best person” to lead the DMW.