PB 1 __________________________________ The "Para sa Bayan" is a publication of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) produced and published 27 December 2016. 2 3 Table of contents Foreword 9 1 Migration and Development 11 Vision 2020: Responding to the Challenges of Migration and Development 13 Heroes and Heroines from the Homeland: Migration from a Philippine 17 Perspective Migration Mainstreaming in National Development Planning: The 29 Philippine Case Supporting National Development through Migration Mainstreaming 37 Processes, Extended Migration Profiles, and Poverty Reduction Strategies The Value of International Migration to the Philippines and Canada 41 Diasporas and Development: The Philippine Experience and Perspective 47 The Joint Migration and Development Initiative Phase 2 (JMDI II) in the 53 Philippines The Current and Future Shape of International Migration, Its Challenges 57 and Significance to Asia The Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) and Its 71 Significance to Asia-Pacific Contribution of Filipino Diaspora to Development 77 Advancing Regional Cooperation through Migration and the Sustainable 81 Development Goals 2 Migration Governance 87 The Philippine Migration Management, Structure and Programs 89 2 3 Table of contents Europe-Asia Cooperation on Migration: Response to Forthcoming 101 Challenges World Migration Figures: Strengthening Evidence – Improving Policy and 105 the Philippine Experience in Migration Data Collection and Analysis Action-oriented and Multi-level Cooperation on International Migration 111 and Development Migration Management for Sending Countries: The Philippine 113 Experience - Challenges of Migration and Development Faced by Sending Countries: The Philippine Response The Philippine's Policies and Initiatives in Encouraging Innovation-Driven 135 Growth The Philippine Government Programs to Mobilize Diaspora 141 MIEUX as an Innovative and Pioneering Expert Facility to National and 145 Regional Migration Governance: The Philippines and South East Asian Experience Capacity Building: Opportunities and Limits of Governmental Cooperation: 149 The Philippines' Approach and Experience Mainstreaming Migration into Planning at the Sectoral Level 153 Exploring the Key Role of Local Authorities in Implementing the International 157 Migration and Development Agenda 3 Engaging the Diaspora 159 Developing Partnerships with the Filipino Diaspora for National 161 Development Overseas Filipino Healthcare Professionals as Partners for Nation Building 165 Philippine Perspective on Migration: The Various Impact of International 171 Migration and the Role of the Philippine Diaspora in the Country’s Development 4 5 Table of contents Cities, the Integration of Migrants and Co-Development Practices 181 The Return and Reintegration of Filipino Diaspora and Their Role in 185 Philippines Development Facilitating Positive Development Impacts of Diaspora Engagement in 193 Skills Transfers, Investments and Trade Between Countries of Residence and Origin 4 Migrants caught in Crisis 195 The Philippine's Best Practices in Responding To Migrants in Countries 197 in Crisis Migrants Rights in an Unstable World 201 Safeguarding the Welfare of Filipinos in Europe 207 5 Human Trafficking 215 The Fight Against Human Trafficking is Everyone’s Commitment 217 Defending the Dignity of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos 219 Channels Used by Traffickers in the Philippines 221 6 Workforce Mobility 227 Mobilizing and Maximizing the Diverse Skills of Filipino Migrant Workers 229 Promoting and Protecting the Rights and Welfare of Overseas Filipino 239 Workers: The Philippine Experience The Philippine Experience with Bilateral Labor Agreements and 243 Migration 4 5 Table of contents Frontiers for Reform: Opportunities in Building Greater Regional 249 Cooperation on the Mobility of the Highly Skilled Skill Mobility in ASEAN: Where We are Today 255 Improving the Quality of Work vis-à-vis the Sustainable Development 259 Goal (SDGs) with Migration and Development Perspective Highlighting the Benefits of Skills Mobility in ASEAN 263 7 Remittances 267 Building a Future Back Home 269 Reducing the Cost of Remittances and Channeling Remittances towards 271 Development: The Philippine Experience The Economic Crisis and Overseas Filipinos' Remittances: Learning to 281 Build a Future Back Home Harnessing Remittances for Financial Inclusion 287 Bayanihan for Development: Upscaling Remittances for at the Local 291 Level for Local Development (URL) Project Channelling Remittance Flows Into Increased Financial Stability 293 Impact of Migration and Remittances on Health and Education of Children 299 and Other Family Members Left Behind: The Philippine Experience Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Banks vis-à-vis Remittances of 307 Overseas Filipinos Linking Migration, Remittances and Development: The Philippine Case 315 Leveraging Remittances for Development: A Look at Asia and the 321 Philippines Financing for Sustainable Development: The Role of Remittances in the 327 Philippine Context Digital Finance: A New Wave in Payments and Remittances 333 6 7 Table of contents 8 Financial Inclusion 339 Bridging the Gap, Plugging the Leak 341 Programs and Services for Overseas Filipinos in Relation to Inclusive 345 Growth Importance of Public-Private Partnership in Financial Inclusion National 349 Strategy for Financial Inclusion Tactical Plans How Remittances, Financial Technology, Financial Products and Social 353 Enterprises Can Play A Significant Role In Fostering Financial Inclusion And Inclusive Development 9 Gender Dimension 359 The Philippines - Gender Dimensions of Our International Migration: The 361 Impact on Our Women, Children and Families Reflection on ADB Study: The Impact of the Global Crisis On Migrant 367 Workers and Their Families: A Survey-Based Analysis with a Gender Perspective Gender Dimension of the Migrants in Countries in Crisis (MICIC) Initiative 371 10 Miscellaneous 377 Ensuring Tomorrow’s Health: Workforce Planning and Mobility 379 Moving Forward in Solidarity 383 Medical Mission in the Philippines 389 6 7 8 9 foreword In the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, the phrase is often heard, as a personal reminder and motivation to continue the good and noble work for the Filipino people. It became a mantra, which the employees had picked up thanks to Secretary Imelda M. Nicolas' penchant for the saying. Out of her lips, these three words take a life of their own, forming not just a phrase but a paragon of work which had its foundation hinged on dedication and patriotism. She lived it, and entreated those under her to make it their raison d'etre. Secretary Nicolas' career is a long and illustrious one, her efforts devoted to nearly a lifetime of service to the country. Prior to her appointment as Chairperson of CFO in 2010, she was Cabinet-level Secretary of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, and former Chairperson of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, which is now the Philippine Commission on Women. Her work and her advocacies overlapped brought about by her passion for women's rights and human development. It is with the same fervor that she assumed her responsibilities as the Chairperson of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Under her leadership, the Commission made leaps and strides in the field of Migration and Development. It aspired to be the 'premier institution in promoting policies, programs, and projects with Migration and Development as a framework for the strengthening and empowerment of the Filipino overseas community.' The term 'Overseas Filipinos' became more familiar in usage, as recommended by Secretary Nicolas; it being more inclusive of Filipinos living and working abroad. She endeavored to serve all Filipinos residing overseas, without distinction to their status. This book holds her speeches, covering a myriad of subjects from migration and development to migration governance, from remittances to financial inclusion, how best to engage the diaspora, and even analyzing the gender dimension of migration. From her speeches and her words, you can envision the woman that is Imelda M. Nicolas - a dedicated public servant, faithful to her beliefs and ideals, and unafraid to be a woman of action. 8 9 10 11 Migration and Development According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), migration and development are two interdependent processes. It is no longer plausible to hinder migration, being as it is a global phenomenon. Instead, countries are currently working to utilize it for greater development. That is the case with our 10.24 million overseas Filipinos worldwide1, who act as the government’s partners for development, and who contribute greatly, not only through financial remittances, but also through the often overlooked social remittances. This comes in the form of skills and technology transfer to cultural exchanges, diaspora investments, advocacy, diaspora philanthropy, and even tourism initiatives. In her speech, Vision 2020: Responding to the Challenges of Migration and Development, Imelda M. Nicolas, barely a month after assuming the mantle of Secretary of CFO in 2010, explained the paradigm shift of the CFO’s mission and vision, citing that the Commission would then ‘take a more pro-active role for and with all our overseas Filipinos, whether working or living in other countries -- towards harnessing the development potential of international migration while at the same time mindful of migration’s significant cost to the overseas Filipinos