As Filipino migration to Europe continues to grow in scale and complexity, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has reaffirmed its commitment to a strategic diaspora engagement model that positions overseas Filipinos as active development partners rather than mere beneficiaries of welfare services.
The shift was underscored during the multi-stakeholder forum titled “The European Turn: A New Chapter in Global Migration from the Philippines,” held on February 18 at Astoria Plaza in Pasig City. The forum brought together migration experts and policymakers to examine evolving migration trends between the Philippines and Europe. It also marked the culmination of the AspirE research project, a Horizon Europe-supported initiative exploring Asian migration aspirations.
Under the leadership of CFO Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II, the agency has expanded its mandate to strengthen economic, political, and cultural ties between overseas Filipinos and the Philippines. During the panel discussion, the Commission emphasized that diaspora engagement must move beyond welfare and consular services and instead recognize overseas Filipinos as cultural ambassadors and bridges between the Philippines and Europe.
Recent data from the CFO and the Philippine Statistics Authority show that approximately 10.2 million Filipinos live overseas. While the Americas and the Middle East remain primary migration hubs, Europe has emerged as a growing destination due to labor shortages in healthcare, maritime services, and other skilled industries.
Countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and several Nordic states have seen a notable increase in both permanent and temporary migration streams. In the United Kingdom alone, the Filipino population has surpassed 200,000, largely driven by demand in the healthcare sector. Expanding Filipino communities have also been recorded in Belgium and Portugal.
Rodrigo V. Garcia, CFO chief emigrant services officer, presented the Commission’s updated programs tailored for Europe-based Filipinos. These include regular online engagement sessions with Filipino au pairs to monitor welfare concerns, the deployment of Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar resource persons for study visits in Europe, and stronger partnerships with faith-based groups, youth networks, and professional associations to encourage civic and economic participation.
The AspirE project, led by Dr. Asuncion Fresnoza-Flot of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, provided research insights that guided discussions at the forum. The CFO stressed the importance of sustained collaboration between research institutions such as the Scalabrini Migration Center and government agencies to ensure responsive and evidence-based policymaking.
With migration patterns shifting toward Europe, the Commission aims to ensure that the Filipino diaspora remains a vital engine of innovation, cultural exchange, and national development.
