Three decades of sustained out-migration from the Philippines has created a migrant nation, with about 10 percent of the Filipino population based overseas. The most recent stock estimate (2003) puts the overseas Filipino population at 7.76 million (2.87 million immigrants, 3.39 million workers, and 1.51 unauthorized migrants) living and working in 192 countries around the globe. This recent history of large-scale migration has created various Filipino institutions overseas - communities, media, organizations and businesses - which provide an important source of identity and support to migrants. These institutions help not only to link Filipinos based abroad but also to maintain their links to the Philippines. The support extended by overseas Filipinos to various causes in the Philippines - medical missions, financial support in times of disasters, or the participation of overseas Filipinos in EDSA2 - is indicative of the ties that continue to bind overseas Filipinos and those remaining in the Philippines.
Given the importance of labor migration and the large numbers of Filipinos affected by it, a variety of migrant NGOs have emerged in different countries, which aim to promote the protection of the rights of migrant workers and their families. This kind of work requires coordination with homeland institutions, hence the importance of being updated with developments in the Philippines, which have a bearing on migrant workers based abroad. Conversely, migrant NGOs and advocates in the Philippines also need to keep abreast of the conditions of migrants in different countries in order to mobilize necessary actions and coordination because of the transnational nature of migration.
The signing of Republic Act 9189 (Absentee Voting Act of 2003) is expected to have implications for the transnational links between overseas Filipinos and the Philippines. To strengthen these links, it is important to promote access to and dissemination of vital information - particularly information provided by an independent source - to support the programs and activities of overseas Filipino organizations, media and migrant NGOs. A special forum allowing the OFWs representatives, coming from the receiving countries, could be an essential tool to empower Filipino migrants, enabling them to be more proactive in the drawing up of new national and transnational migration policies and programs.
Objectives
- To provide a venue to discuss and analyze issues and concerns that impact on OFWs and their families,
- To provide a venue for migrant NGOs, international organizations and government organizations to present their programs and services, in order to assess their impact and responsiveness to the OFWs and their families,
- To provide an avenue to initiate and sustain networking and solidarity between and among OFWs and with other stakeholders,
- To provide a forum for a proactive exchange of information among various stakeholders and to define and forge transnational cooperation and other exchanges,
- To elaborate a plan of action to be presented to the Philippine Government for implementation towards shaping the future of Filipino labor migration.
Topics
- International Conventions and Migrant's Rights/Migrants' Rights Education
- Philippine GO's Commitments for the OFWs' Welfare
- Gender Dimensions of Philippine Labor Migration
- Unauthorized Migration and Trafficking
- Emerging Trends in the Global Labor Market/The Role of the Migration Industry
- Migration/Integration Policies of Receiving Countries
- OFWs and Overseas Filipinos as Political Actors (Absentee Voting Law)
- Dual Citizenship
- Reintegration Programs
- Transnational Linkages (Good practices and solidarity projects)
- Filipino Migrants and Transnationals as Culture Bearers (i.e., as bearers of Filipino culture abroad; as bearers of other cultures in the Philippines)
- Social Costs of Migration
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