INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES: PERSPECTIVES FROM AN ORIGIN COUNTRY Fourth Pastoral Conference on Migration & Refugees Sydney, 1-3 October 2014 Maruja M.B. Asis – Scalabrini Migration Center

Outline of presentation Global discussions on migration and development The Philippines as a country of migrants Towards a migration and development agenda in the Philippines Conclusions

GLOBAL DISCUSSIONS ON MIGRATION & DEVELOPMENT The links between migration and development have been attracted policy and research attention in recent years Remittances to developing countries are huge The role of the diaspora in the development of home countries The potential contributions of return migrants st High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development 2007 Global Forum on Migration and Development (Brussels) 2008 (Manila) 2009 (Greece) 2010 (Mexico) 2011 (Geneva) 2012 (Mauritius) 2013 (Stockholm) nd High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development

GLOBAL DISCUSSIONS ON MIGRATION & DEVELOPMENT Remittances are three times the size of official development assistance Unlike aid, remittances go directly to families Remittances are the most tangible and least controversial link between migration and development. Policymakers can do much more to maximize the positive impact of remittances by making them less costly and more productive for both the individual and the recipient country.” - Dilip Ratha, Manager of the Migration and Remittances Team, World Bank Lower remittance costs means more funds that can be used for more productive purposes in developing countries Judicious use of remittances by recipients will promote developmental goals, esp. in local communities

ESTIMATES & PROJECTIONS OF REMITTANCE FLOWS (IN USD BILLIONS) (Source: Migration and Development Brief #s 21 & 22, World Bank )

REMITTANCES TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Volume of remittances to developing countries (est): USD414 billion in 2013; USD436 in 2014 The top five recipients of remittances in 2013 (est) India ($70 billion) China ($60 billion) Philippines ($25 billion) Mexico ($22 billion) Nigeria ($21 billion) Sources: entMDK: ~pagePK: ~piPK: ~theSitePK:476883,00.html countries-remittances-2013-world-bank, 2 Oct 2013

Large-scale, persisting international migration since the 1970s The Filipino diaspora 10.4 million overseas Filipinos Diverse source communities in the Philippines Diverse destinations worldwide Diverse migrant profiles (women are an important component of Filipino migration) Country Migration Report: The Philippines (2013) - ct_info&cPath=41_7&products_id=971 THE PHILIPPINES AS A COUNTRY OF MIGRANTS

Distribution of Overseas Filipinos by World Region : Stock Estimate (Dec 2012) Source: estimate-of-overseas-filipinos&catid=134:statisticsstock-estimate&Itemid=814 RegionPermanentTemporaryIrregularTOTAL WORLD % % % Africa Asia- E&S Asia-W Europe Americas & Trust Terr Oceania Australia Seabased workers

THE PHILIPPINES, A COUNTRY OF MIGRANTS International labor migration has contributed to transforming the Philippines into a country of migrants. From 36,035 workers deployed in 1975, the numbers have soared to 1.8 million workers in Remittances show an upward trend (USD118 million in 1974; USD24 billion in 2013.)

THE PHILIPPINES, A COUNTRY OF MIGRANTS Remittances are the most recognized contribution of migration to development in the Philippines Concerns about the social costs of migration are equally acknowledged Beyond remittances are the contributions of overseas Filipino communities and return migrants to development in the Philippines For examples, see Transnational Bridges: Migration, Development and Solidarity in the Philippines (2010) (

THE PHILIPPINES, A COUNTRY OF MIGRANTS Good will of migrants to give back to the Philippines Migrant giving – medical missions, scholarships, light infrastructure projects; livelihood projects are rare Tendency to donate to hometown, school or cause close to the donor’s heart Recipients in the Philippines also provide a counterpart (though not in the same fashion as tres por uno) Partners of overseas Filipinos in the Philippines: church-related, kin, media, local government

MIGRANT GIVING OR DIASPORA PHILANTHROPY School children in Capiz, one of the Visayas provinces affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), receiving backpacks, thanks to the funds pooled by migrants, their local parishes and the Scalabrinian missionaries. The Filipino Communities Council of Australia also raised funds to help communities in Leyte.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF RETURN MIGRANTS Was a domestic worker for 20 years (Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong) Founded a BPO company in Davao City, Philippines – Advocate of migrant protection –

CONTRIBUTIONS OF RETURN MIGRANTS Rista, an Indonesian, worked in Singapore for 10 years. She was amazed at the many books that her 2-year old ward has read. This inspired her to open a library for children in her village.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF RETURN MIGRANTS The children’s library,“Ceria,” which means happiness, opened in July 2013 Source:

TOWARDS AN AGENDA FOR MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES The Philippines’ labor migration program was relatively successful in combining migrant deployment and protection Lessons from former origin countries that became destination countries increasing deployment did not lead to development rising remittances did not lead to development targeted policies and programs were necessary to realize the development potentials of migration

TOWARDS AN AGENDA FOR MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES Recent developments The Philippine Development Plan, dropped the target of deploying one-million workers per year The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) continues to improve the remittance environment Various organizations provide financial education programs for migrants and their families The Commission on Filipinos Overseas spearheads government efforts in mainstreaming migration in development policies Piloted the collective use of remittances in the Ilocos Region Launched the BaLinkBayan Overseas Filipinos on-line portal in 2013 Strengthened relations with the Filipino diaspora (beyond the US) – 3rd Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora, Feb 25-27, 2015, Manila

Information on starting a business/investment, donation/volunteering, government services, and interactive maps

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS IN DESTINATION COUNTRIES Continuing education of migrants Rights and protection Financial education of migrants Strengthening the capabilities of migrants’ associations Promoting the role of employers and their responsibility in the protection of migrants Coordinating with Church partners in countries of origin Acknowledging the contributions of migrants to destination countries and to improve public perceptions about migrants (HLD)

CONCLUSIONS Key challenge in the home-front Decent jobs for inclusive growth and expanding people’s choices, including the choice to remain or to migrate A shared responsibility and blessing In promoting and respecting the dignity of migrants, they can also become partners in enabling others to be steps closer towards fullness of life.