Pasali hosts Forum on Migration and Development for Region XII
Pasali Philippines Foundation, Inc., in partnership with the Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) and the Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) hosted a “Forum on Migration and Development for Region XII” last January 18, 2017 held at its office in Calumpang, General Santos City. More or less 50 representatives from Region XII Government Line Agencies (RGLAs) dealing with migration and development, Local Government Units (LGUs), Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Family Circles, migrant organizations/groups, and staff of Pasali Philippines attended the activity.
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In attendance were Mayor Abubacar Maulana from Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, Councilors Hon. Domingo Lagare Jr. and Hon. Lourdes Casabuena from General Santos City, Regional Director Marlyn E. Jamero of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Assistant Regional Director Evelyn R. Fetalvero from the Department of Education (DepEd) and representatives of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), , National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Atty. Golda Roma of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) presented an overview regarding M&D as applicable and useful to RGLAs and LGUs. This include, among others, the mainstreaming of migration in the regional, provincial and local development plans and investment programs, institutionalizing relevant and functional M&D structures such as migrant desks/centers and committees/councils, and provision of services to migrants, their families or their organizations. In addition, she presented best practices, innovations and findings from the implementation of JMDI in Regions I, IV-A, V and VI, and provided participants with potential strategies and mechanisms to replicate the same in Region XII.
The JMDI, supported by the European Commission and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by the UNDP in collaboration with International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Training Center-International Labour Organization (ITC-ILO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and UN WOMEN focuses on the local dimension of migrants’ contribution to development and aims to maximize the potential of migration for local development. Its main objective is working to empower local and regional authorities (LRAs) to better manage migration for development because they are finding themselves at the forefront of managing both the positive and negative impacts of migration.
Rex Varona, East & Southeast Asia Coordinator of Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) said that efforts towards protection of migrants, especially migrant workers, must not stop because there remains an alarming number of cases of abuses, human rights violations and marginalization committed against them. Citing a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) report, their group said that in 2013 alone, over 3,000 OFWs were jailed in various parts of the world, while at least 800 arrived home dead. He emphasized the pioneering efforts of MFA, Pasali, Unlad Kabayan and partners since the 1990s in building Filipino migrant savings, initiatives and enterprises towards transformative economic development in the Philippines. He alerted the participants of the need for strategic response to climate change due to its impact on communities and links with migration. MFA is the biggest Asian network of migrants and advocates, with members in more than 20 Asian countries..
Engr. Winnie Fred Rotor and Mr. Junny “Nonoy” Ty, Pasali Managing Director and Board of Trustees Chair respectively, presented brief updates regarding the institution’s ongoing programs, services and investments involving young professionals, migrants and their families towards inclusive socio-economic development.
Rex Varona, East & Southeast Asia Coordinator of Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) said that efforts towards protection of migrants, especially migrant workers, must not stop because there remains an alarming number of cases of abuses, human rights violations and marginalization committed against them. Citing a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) report, their group said that in 2013 alone, over 3,000 OFWs were jailed in various parts of the world, while at least 800 arrived home dead. He emphasized the pioneering efforts of MFA, Pasali, Unlad Kabayan and partners since the 1990s in building Filipino migrant savings, initiatives and enterprises towards transformative economic development in the Philippines. He alerted the participants of the need for strategic response to climate change due to its impact on communities and links with migration. MFA is the biggest Asian network of migrants and advocates, with members in more than 20 Asian countries..
Engr. Winnie Fred Rotor and Mr. Junny “Nonoy” Ty, Pasali Managing Director and Board of Trustees Chair respectively, presented brief updates regarding the institution’s ongoing programs, services and investments involving young professionals, migrants and their families towards inclusive socio-economic development.
The participating government institutions that have a role in optimizing the potential of migration for regional and local development also discussed their activities, programs and strategies towards mainstreaming migration in the regional and local development plans as well as in building appropriate M&D structures such as the regional and local committees on M&D.
Ms. Sandra Alido of NEDA Region XII informed that the Region’s Development Plan (RDP) is still under finalization and she encouraged forum participants to submit M&D related data for them to consider in the final Plan. In closing, Atty. Roma recapitulated action points that the group discussed. Among others are: 1) agencies/organizations who have M&D related data should be submitted to NEDA R-XII ASAP for possible inclusion in the final RDP; 2) JMDI to share M&D related documents from other areas including DILG memorandum on M&D; and 3) Pasali to come up with the proposal for M&D integration to Regional Development Committee (RDC) and creation of the regional committee on M&D |