PHILLIPPINE PERSPECTIVE ON MIGRATION:
Various Impacts of International Migration
And the Role of the Filipino Diaspora
In the Country’s Development
Delivered by
Cabinet-level Secretary Imelda M. Nicolas
Chairperson, Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO)
Office of the President of the Philippines
Second International Forum on Migration and Development
26 November 2012, Guadalajara, Mexico
OVERVIEW OF PHILIPPINE MIGRATION
PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO’S
SOCIAL CONTRACT W/ THE PEOPLE
“From a government that treats its people
as an export commodity and a means to
earn foreign exchange, disregarding the
social cost to Filipino families…to a
government that creates jobs at home, so
that working abroad will be a choice
rather than a necessity, and when its
citizens do choose to become Overseas
Filipino Workers, their welfare and
protection will still be the government’s
priority.”
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MIGRATION
The Philippines ranks third (tied
with Mexico) globally in terms of
remittances ($24 billion).
Remittances to the Philippines
constitute 10.7% of the country’s
GDP, the highest of any country in
Southeast
Asia.
Source: World Bank, 2011 & 2012
REMITTANCES
The Philippine Central Bank
or Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) indicate that in 2011,
remittances of overseas
Filipinos, coursed through the
formal channels, reached US$
20.1 billion.
Remittances have been resilient, providing
cushion against external shocks
Overseas Filipinos’ Remittances
1980 – October 2011 (in billion US$)
 Remittances up by 7.2% in 2011 from
that of 2010
 Sustained remittances’ growth due to:
 Diversity of OFs’ skills and expertise
 New and expanded markets
 Expansion of bank and non-bank
services
 Remittances have other benefits
• Underpin private consumption
• Raise savings
• Increase investment in human
capital
• Broaden middle-class segment
Remittances (RHS)
25
Growth Rate (LHS)
40
30
20
20
15
10
10
0
-10
5
0
-20
80
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10 Jan- JanOct Oct
10 11
-30
BSP Overseas Filipinos Portal
www.bsp.gov.ph
7
Ofs-ReD PROJECT
Addressed the goal of
harnessing the potential
of overseas remittances
for poverty reduction and
consequently, local
economic development
Supports policies that transform overseas remittances for
development, savings and investments, and builds a
viable collective remittance fund.
REMITTANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
The ReDC is both an advisory and policy recommending
body and a venue for regular dialogues and feedback
on issues regarding remittances.
PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2010-2016
Together with the National
Development Authority
(NEDA), the CFO managed
to get at least 60
migration‐related provisions
(in seven out of nine
chapters) of the Philippine
Development Plan.
SAVING MECHANISMS FOR MIGRANT
REMITTANCES
 Social Security System (SSS)
Allows its members to take part in Flexifund, a savings
program that pays 8% interest per annum and that
supplements a member’s regular sickness, retirement, and
death benefits offered by the SSS.
 Pag-IBIG Fund (Home Development Mutual Fund)
Provides pay returns of 3% for dollar contributions and 7.5%
for peso contributions.
Both Pag-IBIG and SSS, were restructured to serve as savings
mechanisms and to respond to two of the main uses for
migrant remittances – retirement/health and housing.
Source: Asian Development Bank. 2004. Enhancing the Efficiency of Overseas Filipino Workers’ Remittances.
SOCIAL IMPACT OF MIGRATION
HE PRESIDENT’S DIRECTIVE TO REVERSE THE BRAIN DRAIN AND
TO SOLVE SKILLS-EDUCATION-JOB MISMATCH
“Invest in our country’s top
resource, our human resource
to make us more competitive
and employable while
promoting industrial peace
based on social justice
22- Point Platform and Polic
Pronouncements on Labor and Employme
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
CURRICULUM REVIEW
BASIC EDUCATION: K to 12 Modeling Program
Objectives
Aside from Kindergarten, addition of Grades 11 and
12
Description
This is a program agreed by the National InterAgency Steering Committee for the K-12 (Grades 11
and 12) in both private and public schools
nationwide.
Activities
Development of learning standards and implementing
guidelines for G11 -12; Come up with a
communication plan for the main constituents of the
K to 12 progra; Field visits to modeling schools;
Curriculum enhancement; Partnership with key
stakeholders in the K to 12 modeling sites;
Timelines
Starting SY 2012 - 2013
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
CURRICULUM REVIEW
Higher Education and Training Curriculum
Objectives
To hone the competencies and skills of the
Filipino higher education graduates
Description
The review of the Higher Education and Training
Curriculum is undertaken on account of rapid
technological changes, skills obsolescence and
globalization of skills and qualifications.
Activities
Review, updating and modification of 88 policies,
standards and guidelines (PSGs) of curricular
programs in the fields of Engineering and
Technology, Architecture, Fine Arts and related
programs, Agriculture Education, Maritime
Education, Criminal Justice, Humanities,
Social Sciences, Health Profession, Information
Technology, and Science and Math
Timelines
Starting 2012
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
CURRICULUM REVIEW
Improve TESDA Training Management
Objectives
Increasing Training Participation and Achieve
Effective Training Management
Description
Career guidance, advocacy, coaching and
counseling program; Promotion of agro-fishery
related programs;TVET Infrastructure build-up in
areas of trainers/assessors development, learning
materials development; IT-linked programs,
systems, processes; Development of Training
Regulations in higher level technologies and
qualifications; Periodic review of training
regulations and curricula; Assessment and
Certification Program
Timelines
2011-2016
PHILIPPINES QUALIFICATION FRAMEWORK
Objectives
Development of the Philippine Qualifications
(PQF) Framework
Description
The PQF is a framework on which standards and
qualifications are determined and agreed upon by
education and training institutions and their
stakeholders. It brings together into a unified
national system, all recognized qualifications in
the Philippines.
Activities
Development and consolidation of PQF
Timelines
2011-2012
CAREER GUIDANCE ADVOCACY
Objectives
Intensify career guidance on a national scale by
developing advocacy plan and organizing
innovative avenues to share labor market
information
Description
The Career Guidance Advocacy Plan will pave the
way to making national and regional labor market
information trends and publications more
accessible to the public.
Activities
Career Guidance and Advocacy Plan; National
Career Congress; Career Guidance Week
Timelines
2012
SKILLS REGISTRY SYSTEM & EXPAND
LINKS OF DOLE DATA WAREHOUSE
Objectives
Enjoining all newly graduates to register to the Skills
Registry System (SRS) and to integrate government data
hubs to facilitate verification of applicant information on
skills certification and accreditation, licensure, and local and
overseas employment data.
Description
Houses a “live” registry of skills to facilitate referral and
placement of jobseekers. The DOLE Data Warehouse is
capable of performing online verification of applicant
information on skills certification and accreditation,
licensure, and local and overseas employment data
Activities
Foster strong linkages with and among participating
LGUs/PESOs; Link HR databases from other government
agencies to the DOLE Data Warehouse
Timelines
2012
DIASPORA TO DEVELOPMENT (D2D)
D2D Components
PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION SEMINARS
MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS
FILIPINOS ACT
The amendment of the Migrant
Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act
and its implementing rules in 2010,
expanded the definition of overseas
Filipinos “to migrant workers, other
Filipino nationals and their
dependents abroad.”
COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS
Citigold Center, 1345 Quirino Avenue corner Pres. Osmeña
Highway, Paco, Manila 1007, Philippines
Tel. nos. (632) 552-4700 local 401; (632) 561-8291
Fax no. (632) 561-8332
E-mail: info@cfo.gov.ph
Website: www.cfo.gov.ph