Marking a historic milestone in its 45-year history, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has completed its first-ever comprehensive institutional assessment, culminating in the launch of a 10-year strategic roadmap aimed at transforming the Philippines’ engagement with its global diaspora.
The study, titled “Evaluation of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the Formulation of its 2026–2035 Strategic Roadmap,” was formally presented on Tuesday at the CFO Board Room in Pasay City.
Conducted over a six-month period in partnership with the Center for Research and Communication Foundation, Inc. (CRCFI) of the University of Asia and the Pacific, the assessment marks the first time the agency has undertaken a rigorous, data-driven institutional review since its establishment.
CFO Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II described the study as a turning point for the Commission, urging officials to use its findings to strengthen and expand the agency’s role in diaspora governance.
“While it is important to recognize our pre-departure services as the starting point of our interaction with our constituents, this engagement should not be a one-time event,” Ang said. “It must evolve into continued involvement and a permanent connection with the diaspora.”
Three-Phase Vision for 2035
The newly launched strategic roadmap outlines a decade-long transformation for the CFO, structured into three phases to ensure sustainable institutional growth:
- Phase 1 (Years 1–3): Focuses on policy leadership, digital transformation, and organizational restructuring.
- Phase 2 (Years 4–6): Aims to strengthen investment channels, diaspora communities, and deepen stakeholder engagement.
- Phase 3 (Years 7–10): Integrates these reforms into the permanent framework of Philippine migration governance.
The framework was presented by CRCFI lead researcher Dr. Veronica Esposo Ramirez and Lambert Ramirez and is anchored on the concept of transnationalism. It evaluates the CFO’s mandate and operational capacity through the lens of the “Diaspora Lifecycle,” ensuring that services are responsive to Filipinos at every stage of their migration journey.
Strategic Re-alignment
The assessment recommends a major organizational realignment to better fulfill the CFO’s mandate of connecting overseas Filipinos to the Philippines politically, economically, and culturally.
Key recommendations include enhanced digital platforms to improve connectivity and a revised mission and vision that reflect evolving migration trends.
Ang emphasized the importance of prioritizing initiatives that deepen diaspora engagement, noting that the roadmap must serve as a practical guide for all future programs, projects, and activities.
The study underscores the CFO’s transition from a primarily regulatory and administrative body into a proactive partner in national development. By empowering the diaspora to invest and engage more deeply with the Philippines, the Commission aims to ensure that the country’s estimated 10 million Filipinos abroad remain a vital force in national progress toward 2035.
About the Commission on Filipinos Overseas
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), established under Batas Pambansa Blg. 79, is dedicated to the welfare and empowerment of Filipinos permanently residing abroad. It is distinct from the Department of Migrant Workers, which primarily serves Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and other temporary migrants.
An agency under the Office of the President, the CFO works to strengthen the social, economic, and cultural ties of global Filipinos with their home country. Its primary stakeholders include Filipino permanent migrants, dual citizens, spouses and partners of foreign nationals, Exchange Visitor Program participants, au pair participants bound for Europe, and Filipino descendants overseas.
For more information, please contact Atty. Jan Karlo Magracia of the Office of
the Secretary at jkmagracia@cfo.gov.ph.