Philippine Policy and Experience Mainstreaming Migration into Development Planning

1. Philippine Policy and ExperienceMainstreaming Migration into Development Planning Carlos D. Sorreta Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative New York, 28 November 2011 Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations

2. Philippine Migration Profile • 11 million • Over 10% of total Philippine population • Diverse occupations • In over 190 countries and most merchant vessels Americas 3.9 million M. East 2.7 million Asia 1.4 million Europe 954,000 Africa 105,000 Seafarers 400,000

3. Philippine Migration Profile • Remittances in 2010: $18.8 billion • First 9 months of 2011: $14.76 billion, up by 7% from same period last year. • Projected for 2011: $20.1 billion. • Second leading source of foreign exchange receipts.

4. Legal and Institutional Structures • Legal and institutional structures established starting 1973 • Laws primarily to ensure protection of safety and welfare of Filipino Migrants • Cabinet-level agencies dealing directly with migration and development issues: Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Finance, Labor and Employment, Social Welfare and Development, Education, National Economic and Development Authority • Sub-cabinet agencies dealing with migration: • Philippine Overseas Employment Agency • Overseas Workers Welfare Administration • Commission on Filipinos Overseas • Integrated in Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 • Sectoral Representative in Congress

5. Development Planning Areas • Investments • Philanthropy • Education • Return and Reintegration

6. Investments • Diaspora Investment - A program where new financial instruments are developed and promoted for overseas Filipinos to invest. • Business Advisory Circle Program - Assists overseas Filipinos in building linkages and business partnerships in the Philippines. • Tourism Initiatives – Focuses on supporting the drive to encourage overseas Filipinos to investment in small to medium tourism enterprises as well as to visit as tourists.

7. Investments • Exemption from Philippine income tax • Robust remittance industry/Reducing remittance costs • Overseas Filipinos Remittances for Development (OFs-RED) - Grant from UNDP (Project ID # 76817). To review and develop policies that would facilitate the use of remittances for productive and job-creating investments.

8. Philanthropy • Diaspora Philanthropy (Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino) - Focus primarily on facilitating donations in cash or in kind for development projects. • Medical Missions • Disaster Assistance

9. Education • Continuing Education – Skills training, business and money management education. • Alay Dunong (Offered Knowledge) Program - Systematizes and strengthens the skills and technology exchange/transfer. • Balik-Turo (Return to Teach)/Educational Exchange – Encourage return of academics and professionals to teach and work with the academe to strengthen and enhance academic programs of partner schools.

10. Education • Balik-Scientist (Returning Scientist) - Grants are given to overseas Filipino scientist to spend time in the Philippines teaching or working with local scientists. • SCAT and TOKTEN - Science and Technology Advisory Council and Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals. • Maintaining Competitive Edge - Improving local education to remain competitive in global labor markets

11. Return and Reintegration • Reintegration - Focuses on providing returning overseas Filipinos information and facilitating services for a successful reintegration into local life • Livelihood and Housing programs • Returning Filipino retirement program • Portability of social security and health insurance • Displacement assistance

12. Thank you. Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations