The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) highlighted the Philippines’ pioneering role in diaspora engagement during a three-day knowledge exchange organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Viet Nam.
Representing the Philippines, Rodrigo Garcia Jr. of the CFO presented the country’s key institutional mechanisms, flagship programs, and enabling laws that strengthen connections with millions of Filipinos abroad. His talk, under the session “Why diaspora engagement matters,” showcased the Philippines as a global model for structured and sustained diaspora partnership.
Garcia outlined major CFO initiatives such as the Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (Linkapil) Program, which mobilizes overseas Filipino philanthropy for health, education, and livelihood projects; BaLinkBayan, a one-stop online portal linking Filipinos abroad with local governments; and the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO), which recognizes outstanding members of the Filipino diaspora. He also cited enabling laws such as the Dual Citizenship Law and the Overseas Voting Law, which reinforce civic and political ties between the Philippines and its citizens overseas.
“For the Philippines and the CFO, migration is not just a challenge—it’s a bridge connecting our diaspora to national development and our people to a shared future,” Garcia said.
He stressed that the Philippines’ approach combines political commitment, inter-agency coordination, digital platforms, and recognition programs — transforming overseas Filipinos from remittance senders into active partners in nation-building.
Participants from IOM and regional embassies acknowledged the Philippine model as a benchmark for Vietnam’s emerging diaspora strategies. The forum also featured roundtables and testimonies from returnee leaders, underscoring how diaspora engagement drives entrepreneurship, innovation, philanthropy, and local community development.
Organizers noted that insights from the event will guide Vietnam in formalizing its own diaspora engagement framework.
