1. 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

2. OVERVIEW OF PHILIPPINE MIGRATION

3. 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.”

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Overseas Filipinos’ Remittances 1980 – October 2011 (in billion US$)
Remittances have been resilient, providing cushion against external shocks
Overseas Filipinos’ Remittances
1980 – October 2011 (in billion US$)
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

7. BSP Overseas Filipinos Portal 7

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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 Enhancing the Efficiency of Overseas Filipino Workers’ Remittances.

12. SOCIAL IMPACT OF MIGRATION

13. THE 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 Policy
Pronouncements on Labor and Employment

14. 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 Inter-Agency 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. DIASPORA TO DEVELOPMENT (D2D)
D2D Components

21. PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION SEMINARS

22. 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.”

23. Maraming Salamat!
COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS Citigold Center, 1345 Quirino Avenue corner Pres. Osmeña Highway, Paco, Manila 1007, Philippines Tel. nos. (632) local 401; (632) Fax no. (632) Website: