𝙁𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙨 𝙐𝙡𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙧: 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙖

DFA Convenes Filipinas Ultramar, Consultations on Philippine Diaspora

DFA Convenes Filipinas Ultramar, First of Series of Multi-Stakeholder Consultations on Philippine Diaspora

https://dfa.gov.ph/dfa-news/dfa-releasesupdate/34108-dfa-convenes-filipinas-ultramar-first-of-series-of-multi-stakeholder-consultations-on-philippine-diaspora

MANILA 08 February 2024 – The Department of Foreign Affairs successfully convened thirty-five (35) Foreign Service Posts led by Ambassadors, Consuls General, Consuls/Vice Consuls and Assistance to Nationals (ATN) officers, thirteen (13) Philippine Government agencies (including the Department of Migrant Workers, Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, and Professional Regulation Commission), fifteen (15) civil society organizations (including Philippine Migrants Rights Watch, Center for Migrant Advocacy Philippines, Inc., Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, Scalabrini Migration Center, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Global Filipino Movement Foundation, Inc. and other religious and faith-based groups and universities), twenty-two (22) DFA Home Office officials and staff officers, and seventy-three (73) attendees from Embassies and Consulates attending online, to a first of its kind national multi-stakeholder symposium Filipinas Ultramar – Philippines Beyond Borders: Towards a National Consensus on the Philippine Diaspora on 29 January 2024 at Manila Diamond Hotel.

In his Keynote Speech (pre-recorded), Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo welcomed the participants. The concept of Filipinas Ultramar, or the concept of 'Philippines Abroad', the nation outside the nation, is an idea whose time has probably come, he said. The Secretary stated that "This symposium aims to help all Filipino migration stakeholders to validate the consensus that has emerged in recent years, namely, that the global presence of millions of Filipinos outside of the Philippines can be leveraged to benefit not just the individual family members of the overseas Filipinos, but the entire Filipino nation."

He also urged all Ambassadors and Consuls General to deliver governance to this global diaspora. "Through our Ambassadors, Consuls General and Heads of Posts, working together with their various service attachés including from our partners the Department of Migrant Workers and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas", the DFA will lead in delivering services through the One-Country-Team. He urged that "Each Foreign Service Post or FSP is envisioned to "act local". Our Heads of Posts are the alter egos of the President, and therefore the primary instruments through which his strategic goals and policies are shaped and implemented abroad. Therefore, each Ambassador or Consul General must be able to rally all Filipinos under their jurisdiction towards the goals of making the Filipino diaspora an integral element of national progress and nation-building."

Undersecretary Eduardo A. de Vega, who convened the symposium on the authority of the Secretary, said:

"We have an estimated total of 10,854,592 Filipinos abroad. That constitutes a Philippines that exists abroad, whose population is greater than many European countries, combined. The Americas host 49.04%, Asia-Pacific 22.83% and the Middle East 21.88%. Europe, 6.03 %. Africa 1%. Filipinos are everywhere. Disasters and tragedies are happening everywhere.Filipinos can be the Rescuers, instead of needing rescue.DFA can organize Filipinos into a voluntary global response team.This will be the Philippines' leverage and diplomatic force-multiplier.

The Department of Migrant Workers has a mandate to ensure the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (non-permanent migrants), while the Department of Foreign Affairs continues to take the leadership on Philippine migration and integration abroad policy.

To implement the Filipinas Ultramar concept (Philippines beyond borders or Philippines abroad), all Foreign Service Posts have been issued Circulars outlining the vision, and Posts are to submit a Master list of Filipino Community organizations and contact persons in all the countries under their jurisdiction, for the purpose of creating an international list of Filipino organizations worldwide. Ideally, each country falling within an FSP's jurisdiction must have a national coordinating umbrella organization or 'Council of Filipino Community organizations'.