Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac announced that the department is targeting the establishment of a new Migrant Workers Office in Bucharest (MWO-Bucharest) by the end of 2026.
The announcement was made during a town hall dialogue with Filipino community leaders at the Philippine Embassy in Bucharest, hosted by Philippine Ambassador Noel Eugene E. Servigon and attended by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan.
The forum served as a direct platform for community leaders to voice local observations, raise key concerns, and offer recommendations to enhance government service delivery for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) residing in Romania. “The Filipino community is one of our strongest partners in ensuring that no Filipino worker is left behind. Through your continued cooperation, we can better respond to the needs of our kababayans and further strengthen our protection mechanisms for Filipino migrant workers,” Secretary Cacdac emphasized.
During the engagement, the DMW and OWWA leadership outlined ongoing programs and key updates aimed at safeguarding worker welfare:
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Comprehensive Assistance Protocols: Reaffirming quick-response assistance across legal aid, welfare support, emergency response, reintegration programs, and membership services.
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Digitalization of Services: OWWA Administrator Caunan highlighted the OWWA Digital Membership, an initiative enabling OFWs to seamlessly register and renew their OWWA membership online from anywhere in the world.
Demonstrating direct action, the delegation traveled to Constanța on August 6, 2026, to engage with local workers and community representatives. While on site, Secretary Cacdac and Administrator Caunan personally attended to a distressed Filipino domestic worker, extending immediate legal, welfare, and financial assistance.
In close coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Bucharest, the DMW and OWWA will continuously monitor the case and facilitate the worker’s safe repatriation to the Philippines.
