The Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) was established on June 16, 1980, with the proclamation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 79. It is a Philippine government agency directly under the supervision of the Office of the President. It is located at Citigold Center, 1345 Quirino Avenue, Paco, Manila, Metro Manila.
Also read: OWWA Membership Application for OFWs to Become OWWA Member
The Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) is responsible for promoting and protecting the interests, rights, and welfare of Filipino emigrants and permanent residents in other countries. It strengthens the connections between Filipino communities outside the country to their homeland.
Vision
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas envisions a community of well-respected and proudly competitive Filipinos overseas who contribute significantly to the productivity and well-being of the countries where they reside or work while maintaining strong political, economic, and cultural ties with the Philippines.
Mission
To be the Philippines’ premier institution in promoting policies, programs, and projects with Migration and Development as a framework for the strengthening and empowerment of the community of Filipinos overseas.
Clientele
The main clientele of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, according to Batas Pamabansa Blg. 79 are:
- Filipino permanent migrants or permanent residents abroad
- Filipinos overseas who have become naturalized citizens of other countries or dual citizens
- Filipino spouses and other partners of foreign nationals leaving the country
- Descendants of Filipinos overseas, as defined in Batas Pambansa Blg. 79
- Filipino youth overseas
- Exchange Visitor Program participants
- Filipino Au Pair participants
Goals
CFO is fully committed to delivering effective and efficient gender-responsive policies, programs, and services that will empower the Filipino community.
- Capacitate the Filipino people by giving continuous professional development connected to social responsibilities.
- Formulate policies and facilitate quality and people-centered programs and services.
- Optimize the benefits of migration of Filipinos and their host country while carefully taking social costs into consideration.
Function
The Commission on Filipino Overseas is mandated by Batas Pambansa to perform the following functions:
- Provide assistance to the President and the Congress of the Philippines in the formulation of policies and measures concerning or affecting Filipinos overseas;
- Develop and implement programs to promote the interest and well-being of Filipinos overseas;
- Serve as a forum for preserving and enhancing the social, economic, and cultural ties of Filipinos overseas with the motherland; and
- Liaise on behalf of Filipinos overseas with appropriate government and private agencies in the transaction of business and similar ventures in the Philippines.
Benefits
The Commission on Filipino Overseas is responsible for policy and program issues involving Filipino emigrants. It registers emigrants and gives them orientation seminars for pre-departure. It also allows younger Filipino emigrants whose been living abroad to learn about the culture and history of the Philippines.
Programs
- Social and Economic Integration of Migrants. This program prepares Filipinos for the practical and psychological difficulties that come along with international migration. This program includes:
- Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar
- Assistance and post-arrival services
- Community education and public information
- Referrals for international inquiries
- Education and Heritage of Filipinos. This program allows younger generations who live abroad to learn the history, culture, and language of the Philippines. This program includes:
- Overseas Philippine schools
- Labayan sa Pilipinas Program
- Filipiniana libraries and resources centers
- Increasing the international visibility of Filipino culture
- Filipino language courses on the Internet
- National Development and Filipino Unit. This program aims to unify the purpose of overseas Filipino groups’ interests and well-being.
- Link for Philippine Deelopemt (LINKAPIL) or Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL)
- Published and distributed Filipino Ties and other information
- Giving awards and honors to Filipino abroad
- Exchange Visitors Program
- Data Banking and Policy Development. This program studies and evaluates the economic, social, legal, and administrative environment that will affect Filipino emigrants.
- Full equal rights for Filipino veterans.
- Medicare benefits
- Commercial and investment prospects for Filipinos abroad
- Estimate the annual supply of Filipinos living abroad
- Conferences and symposia on migration
- Computerization and data banking programs
Projects
- Ugnayan Series. This project connects social networks and social groups and creates contacts to provide solutions and assistance to new emigrants’ difficulties.
- Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas. This program gives recognition to all outstanding Filipinos who give contributions to national development and their field of profession.
- YouLeaD (Youth Leaders in the Diaspora). This program allows young Filipinos to rediscover their roots and heritage.
- Philippine Schools Overseas (PSO). This is a registered educational institution under the Department of Education’s basic education curriculum (DepEd) located outside the Philippines.
- Link for Philippine Deelopemt (LINKAPIL) or Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL). This program addresses the social and economic development requirements of the Philippines by allowing Filipino abroad to transfer different types of resources to support small-scale, high-impact projects.
- BaLinkBayan: Overseas Filipinos’ One-Stop Online Portal for Diaspora Engagement. This program provides various options for Filipino emigrants to partner with national and local governments in starting businesses, giving opportunities for donation and volunteer services, and accessing online government services.
- Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Advocacy and Communications Committee (IACAT-ADVOCOM).
- Community Education Program (CEP). This program aims to educate potential migrants to make the right decisions about working and living abroad.
- PESO Sense or the Philippine Financial Freedom Campaign. This program gives assistance to Filipino abroad and their families in improving their financial strategies, skills, and knowledge.
- Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards. This program recognized the importance of media in disseminating information and advocating migration and development.
- Month of Overseas Filipinos. The Commission on Filipinos Overseas celebrates the Month of Overseas Filipino and Internation Migrants Day every December.
- Legal Assistance and Counseling Program. This program gives Guidance and Counseling Certificate (GCC) to all fiancees, spouses, or family members of foreign nations who will attend a guidance and counseling session conducted at the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) office.
- Overseas Filipino Centenarian Awards and Incentives. This program provides additional benefits and privileges to all Filipino centenarians.
- Itanong Mo Kay Ato! This legal consulting service addresses issues such as human trafficking, illegal recruiting, and mail-order spouse schemes, among other things.
Video: The Commission on Filipinos Overseas CFO AVP
Watch this video if you want to learn more about what to expect from the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO):
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CFO?
The CFO or the Commission on Filipino Overseas works directly under the Office of the President. Its main job is to promote and protect the interest, rights, and welfare of overseas Filipinos while strengthening their ties to their homeland.
What seminar does it give to Overseas Filipino Workers?
The Commission on Filipino Overseas provides Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars (PDOS) to Overseas Filipino Workers. This costs Php 400.
What can I gain from the Commission on Filipino Overseas?
The CFO disseminate information to emigrants and potential migrants about the policy and basic laws of their host country, rights and obligations abroad, and assistance available to them.
Does CFO give assistance to OFWs?
Yes. Commission on Filipino Overseas gives assistance to “permanent residents”, dual citizens, and Filipino workers.
What is the CFO registration sticker?
Commission on Filipino Overseas Registration Stickers are given to those who successfully completed the registration procedures and attended the pre-departure orientation course. You can expect to receive it within 3-5 days for NCR areas and 3-7 days for provinces to get the sticker from the CFO.
Does the CFO certificate have an expiration date?
No, the Commission on Filipino Overseas certificate has no expiration date. When you receive your immigrant visa package or K1, you have to go back to Commission on Filipino Overseas Office to get your sticker and place it inside the Philippine passport.
Summary
The Commission on Filipino Overseas provides various seminars to make sure that Filipino emigrants and potential migrants are all aware of the laws and culture of their host country and know their rights and obligations. They also educate them by giving them financial education to help them make better decisions to become financially stable.
Living in a different environment and far from family is hard and culture shock is one of the most common experiences everyone will have when moving to another country. That’s why the Commission on Filipino Overseas gives them orientation on what to expect and what to do abroad.
Commission on Filipino Overseas also provides education to our younger Filipino generations living abroad. They make sure that young Filipinos will not forget their roots, heritage, culture, and most especially, the Filipino language to strengthen their ties to their Motherland.
Location of Commission on Filipino Overseas Offices
CFO – Manila
Landline: (02) 8552-4700
E-mail address: info@cfo.gov.ph
Address: Citigold Center, 1345 Pres. Quirino Avenue corner Osmeña Highway, Manila, Philippines 1007
CFO – Cebu
Landline: (+63917)308-1378
E-mail address: cfocebu@cfo.gov.ph
Address: Ground Floor, K&J Building, #4 Don Julio Llorente St., Capitol Site, Cebu City 6000
CFO – Davao
Landline: (+6382) 228-3033 / (+63945)814-4333
E-mail address: cfodavao@cfo.gov.ph
Address: Unit 309, 3rd Floor, Pink Walters Building, Quimpo Boulevard, Ecoland, Davao City
CFO – NAIA
Landline: (02) 8879-5685
Address: Terminal 1