WHAT IS THE COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS (CFO)?
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) is an agency of the Philippine Government under the Office of the President tasked to promote and uphold the interests, rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos and strengthen their ties with the Motherland.
The CFO registers and provides pre-departure orientation seminars to emigrants. It also promotes the transfer of technology as well as material and financial contributions from overseas for development projects in under served communities all over the Philippines. It also provides younger generations of Filipinos overseas with opportunities to learn Philippine history and culture.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF CFO?
Batas Pambansa 79 mandates CFO to:
- Provide advice and assistance to the President and the Congress of the Philippines in the formulation of policies concerning of affecting Filipinos overseas;
- Develop and implement programs to promote the interest and well-being of Filipinos overseas;
- Serve as forum for preserving and enhancing the social, economic, and cultural ties of Filipinos overseas with Philippine motherland; and
- Provide liaison services to Filipinos overseas with appropriate government and private agencies in the transaction of business and similar ventures in the Philippines.
WHO ARE THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF CFO PROGRAMS?
- Filipino immigrants or permanent residents abroad;
- Filipinos overseas who have become citizens of other countries;
- Filipino spouses and other partners of foreign nationals leaving the country;
- Descendants of Filipinos overseas as defined in B.P. 79;
- Filipino youth overseas; and
- Exchange Visitor Program participants.
WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS OF THE CFO?
The work of CFO is conducted under a program framework of activities to serve Filipino communities overseas. This framework consists of the following four program areas:
- Migrant Social and Economic Integration
Ensuring that all Filipinos migrating to other countries are adequately prepared to meet the practical and psychological challenges attendant to international migration.
Programs include the following:- Pre-departure orientation seminars
- Post-arrival services and assistance to Filipino nationals in distress
- Public information and community education
- Referrals on overseas inquiries
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- Filipino Education and Heritage
Promoting Filipino education programs overseas, as well as providing younger generations of Filipinos overseas with opportunities to learn Philippine history, culture, instructions, and the Filipino language.
Programs include the following:
- Philippine schools overseas
- Lakbay-Aral and Lakbayan sa Pilipinas Programs
- Teaching of the Filipino language to children of Filipino migrants
- Filipiniana libraries and resources centers
- Increasing Filipino culture visibility overseas
- Internet-based courses on the Filipino language
- Filipino Unity and National Development
Fostering better cohesion and unity of purpose among the various overseas Filipino organizations for the promotion of their own interests and well being within a broader all-Filipino community.
Programs include the following:- Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL) or Link for Philippine Development
- Publication and distribution of Filipino Ties and other information materials
- Awards and recognition for overseas Filipinos
- Exchange Visitor Program
- Policy Development and Data Banking
Providing a continuing study and review of the economic, social legal, and administrative environment which have bearing on the status of Filipinos overseas.
Programs include the following:- Advocacy and lobby efforts for:
- full equity rights for Filipino veterans
- portability of U.S. Medicare benefits
- establishment of NCLEX testing centers in the Philippines
- return of the Balangiga Bells
- Policy review and formulation
- Studies and researches on:
- absentee voting
- retention of citizenship
- anti-trafficking in persons
- recognition of skills and professional competencies
- business and investment opportunities for overseas Filipinos
- Annual stock estimation of Filipinos overseas
- Conduct of conferences and symposia on migration
- Data banking and computerization programs
- Advocacy and lobby efforts for:
DOES THE WORK OF CFO ALSO BENEFITS OTHER OVERSEAS FILIPINOS?
Yes. The CFO is a member of various inter-agency agreement to deal with policy and program matters concerning migrants, be they permanent, temporary or irregular. Examples of these bodies are the Shared Government Information System on Migration, Crisis Management Security Committee, and Inter-Agency Committees on Philippine Schools Overseas and Exchange Visitor Program.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF CFO IN ENCOURAGING OVERSEAS FILIPINOS TO HELP IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
Pursuant to its mandate, CFO develops and implements activities that facilitate the flow of assistance from Filipinos overseas to local communities in the Philippines. Through the CFO’s Linkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL) or Link for Philippine Development Program, overseas Filipinos are able to channel their assistance to support projects in live lihood/micro-enterprise development, education, health and welfare, small-scale infrastructure, and technology and skills transfer. CFO also maintains active linkages with Filipino associations and other possible donors overseas, as well as local partners in the Philippines, to encourage investments and partnerships for development.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF CFO IN THE PROTECTION OF FILIPINO NATIONALS MIGRATING TO OTHER COUNTRIES?
Through its pre-departure services and extensive local community education programs, CFO provides emigrants and potential migrants with information on the immigration policies and basic laws of their host countries, rights and obligations overseas, and support services available to them.
Pre-Departure Registration and Orientation Seminar
Filipino emigrants are those individuals who leave the country to settle permanently abroad. They are required to register with the CFO and attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) which prepares them for settlement overseas. Country-specific PDOS are conducted for Filipino emigrants to address their adjustment concerns in their destination countries. Various topics discussed include: travel regulations, immigration procedures, cultural differences, settlement concerns, employment and social security concerns, and the rights and obligations of Filipino migrants. Children of emigrants, aged 13 to 19, are required to attend the Peer Counseling Program to prepare the youth migrants meet their sociopsychological needs attendant to their settlement overseas. During the sessions, they can express and discuss their particular concerns such as schooling, peer pressure, bullying, discrimination, language and culture barriers.
- Filipinos Leaving the Country with Immigrant Visa
If you are migrating abroad with an immigrant visa, you need to attend the CFO PDOS/Peer session. Go online now to reserve and register. Click here. - Filipino Spouses and Partners of Foreign Nationals
If you are leaving as fiance(e) /spouse or partner of a foreigner or a former Filipino you need to attend the Guidance Counseling Program (GCP). Here are the steps and requirements, click here. For more details, click here. - Exchange Visitor Program/J1 Visa Holders
If you are leaving the country to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) are required to register. Click here. - Filipinos Leaving the Country with Au Pair Visa
If you are leaving the Philippines as AU Pair bound for Europe/America, you need to attend the CFO Country Familiarization Seminar(CFS). Go online now to reserve and register. Click here. See Flyers for more details.
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  4th Floor, K&J Building, #4 Don Julio Llorente St., Capitol Site, Cebu City, 6000, Cebu (032) 255-5253 cfocebu@cfo.gov.ph |