Overseas Filipinos to be Tapped to Activate CFO Intervention

Overseas Filipinos to be Tapped to Activate CFO Intervention Programs

A 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).

Further distilled, 47 percent, or 4.86 million are the OFs.

These Overseas Filipinos will 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.

DDB Group Philippines, one of the largest and multi-awarded companies in Philippine advertising headed by ad industry stalwart Gil Chua, has agreed to a major sponsorship of the event in line with its corporate social responsibility program.

“Being part of an international company, DDB realizes how important it is to be ahead of the curve and have access to the latest communication trends, technology, and tools to effectively spread our messages. If, through these programs, CFO can harness what Overseas Filipinos have learned; what these trends are, and have the Motherland put them to good use, then our overseas friends would truly have made an impact in the lives of local compatriots,” said Chua, DDB Group Philippines President and CEO. “As a communications company, we want to do our part as an effective conduit for spreading these learnings throughout the country.”

For the coming Global Summit, Chua has mobilized its arsenal of services in integrated marketing and communications, advertising, customer relationship management, strategic media planning, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and specialty communications.

This year, 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 26-27, 2013.

The Summit intends to serve as a venue for networking and exploring partnership among OFs and other development stakeholders. It also aims to highlight the progress of the D2D institutional projects; strengthen the synergy among Presidential Awardees; promote the networking of Overseas Filipinos especially in their respective regions; and accelerate the participation of the 2nd and 3rd generation Overseas Filipinos in the country’s development.

The event will be attended by members and regional partners of the Global Filipino Diaspora Council (GFDC); recipients of the Presidential Awardees for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas under the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO); officers and members of US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) and other Filipino associations overseas; and local or Philippine-based participants, resource persons, speakers from the government, multi-lateral agencies, academe, and civil society.

A special live streaming of the plenary discussions will also be available online at www.d2dglobalsummit.cfo.gov.ph and www.cfo.gov.ph, courtesy of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Convenors for the event are the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Global Filipino Diaspora Council, US Pinoys for Good Governance, and Youth Leaders in the Diaspora. Co-Presentor is SMART International.
Major Sponsors are The Medical City, the Department of Tourism, The Filipino Channel, CBN Asia, Radio High 105.9, the Philippine Retirement Authority, Vibal Publishing House, Inc., ActivAsia, and DDB Philippines.

Minor Sponsors are OneA Family KTV and Sports Bar, Teen Azkals, Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, Air Asia, Century Properties, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, PLDT, and Duty Free Philippines.

Media Partners are Solar Entertainment, Radio Mindanao Network, Monster Radio RX 93.1, Mellow 94.7, The Manila Bulletin, The Philippine Star, Summit Media, and Filwww.com.

For more information, visit www.d2dglobalsummit.cfo.gov.ph or www.cfo.gov.ph. You may also contact Ms. Jo Rodriguez of CFO through telephone: (632) 552-4708 or (632) 552-4705, facsimile: (632) 561-8332, or email: jorodriguez.cfo@gmail.com.