Overseas Filipinos to be Tapped to Activate CFO Intervention Programs The vast population of Overseas Filipinos (OFs) will be tapped to put into action 10 intervention programs being instituted by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) through the 2nd Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora on February 25-27, 2013 in Manila. After almost four decades of sustained and large‐scale migration, the Philippines has emerged as one of the major migrant‐sending countries in the world. The CFO 2011 Stock Estimate of Overseas Filipinos reports that about 10.46 million Filipinos residing in 210 countries comprise the estimated 214 million international migrants all over the world (based on recent a recent report from the 2010 International Organization for Migration). Dissected further, 47 percent, or 4.86 million are the OFs. These Overseas Filipinos will be tapped to spearhead implementation of the CFO programs. To actively engage OFs in the socio-cultural and economic development of the country, the CFO has adopted Diaspora to Development (D2D) as its flagship program that will institutionalize and maximize their involvement in the country’s development through 10 major areas of interventions, namely: Alay Dunong or transfer of skills and technology; Arts and Culture Exchange; Balik-Turo or educational exchange; Business Advisory Circle or business linkaging and mentoring; Diaspora Investments; Global Legal Assistance; Lingkod sa Kapwa Filipino or Diaspora Philanthropy; Medical Mission Coordination; Tourism Initiatives; and Return and Reintegration. For this year’s summit, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has adopted the theme “Two Years Thereafter: The Best of the Philippine Diaspora,” in line with its intent to track the progress and highlight best practices of diaspora engagement since the launch of the D2D initiatives during the First Global Summit held in September 2011. Activities lined up for the three-day event include: Pre-Summit activities on February 25, 2013 that includes participation in the 27th Anniversary Celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution at the People Power Monument in Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and the Summit Proper which will be held in Dusit Thani Hotel and Resort in Makati City on February 2627, 2013.
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