Consular and

Diplomatic
Practices
Introduction
 Foreign policy, once formulated must be put
into effect by means of diplomacy. While
diplomacy is not the sole functional device by
which states mutually attempt to adjust their
respective national interests, it is by far the
most important.
 Diplomacy as a term customarily refers to
the whole process of the political relations of
states.

 Diplomats
- has reference especially to the
Ambassador and his staff abroad.
 In this review, we shall consider
the machinery by which diplomacy
is carried on and the diplomats
who carries the action.
The Machinery
of Diplomacy
Two major parts of the machinery
of diplomacy in a modern state
 First, this is the home establishment;
the governmental department, under
the chief executive entrusted with
the basic responsibility for the
conduct of foreign affairs.
 Second, these are the diplomatic
missions abroad

 The embassies and consulates

and their respective staff.
As an illustration of
this machinery
Structural Organization of DFA
Organizational Structure of the DFA
Secretary of Foreign Affairs

OUA OUP OUIER OUMWA OUSC

OPAS OSPPC
MOAC
TCCP
OFM DFA ASEAN FSI
Mindanao UNACOM
OPSV ASPAC
OAA
ISS
OLA UNIO
DLLU
OEA MIS/Coratel
OCA OMEAA PISU

86 Posts + 1 Extension Office + 11 RCOs + DFA Mindanao

Protocol
Scope and Administration of Protocol
 All foreign Officer the world over have a department
or division which acts as a liaison body between the
Diplomatic Corps and the Department of Foreign
Affairs, and which likewise is entrusted with
functions pertaining to protocol. The head of the
office is commonly known as the chief of Protocol.

 In the Philippines, the Division of Protocol of the

Department of Foreign Affairs is entrusted with
functions falling under three categories –
Ceremonial, Legal, and Liaison-Administrative.
The Ceremonial Functions deal with;
 Arrangement for presentation to the President of
Ambassadors accredited the the Republic of the
Philippines.

 Arrangement for all reception and ceremonials of a

national and international character in the
Philippines and those abroad in which the
Philippines participate; and

 Arrangement for the reception and protection of

foreign distinguished foreign visitors.
The Legal Functions of the Office
Cover…
 Questions regarding the rights, immunities and
privileges of representatives of foreign
governments;

 Questions concerning customs and other

courtesies for Philippine officials abroad and;

 Obtaining of exemption for foreign government

officials, employees, missions and instrumentalities
from certain national, provincial, municipalities and
city taxes.
The Liaison-Administrative Functions
refer to:
 Correspondence concerning the acceptability of
Ambassadors to the Philippine Government and the
acceptability to foreign governments of like officers to the
Philippines:

 Arrangements for the casual or ceremonial visits abroad

of Philippine Officials and organizations;

 The preparation of letter of credence, communications,

certificates of recognition, etc. and all necessary
correspondence in regard to the exchange of Diplomatic
and Consular establishments;
 Types of Diplomatic
Communications
 Common Forms of Communications from and to the Foreign
Office. The Communications commonly exchanged between the
foreign office and the diplomatic representatives are the
following types:
[1] Note
[2] Note diplomatique
[3] Note collective
[4] Identic note
[5] Note verbale
[6] Memorandum
[7] Aide Memoire
[8] Pro memoria
[9] Circular note
Kinds of Notes
A note is a communication from a diplomat to
another diplomat, or from a diplomatic office to
another office or mission. It may be in the first
or in the third person. The first person note is
preferred when the subject matter is of great
importance, or when it is desired to give the
note a more personal tone. It is signed by the
foreign minister or any diplomatic
representative who sends it, and is addressed
to a diplomatic representative, or foreign
minister of another state.
A note diplomatique is a formal communication
between states. It is understood to speak for
and under the direction of the government
whose representative signs it.

A note collective is a formal note addressed by

two or more states to one or more states with
regard to a matter of common interest. It is
usually signed by the diplomatic
representatives of the sending states. It is
seldom used because of the danger that the
state or states to which it is addressed may
consider it offensive.
Identic notes, though not always identical in
wording, are drafted as similarly as possible.
They are identical in substance. As a rule, they
are sent simultaneously by the government of
one state to the government of two or more
states or by the governments of two or more
states to the government of one or more states.

A note verbale is an unsigned communication that

may be sent in lieu of a signed note. Written in
the third person, it bears neither address nor
signature, but is initialed on the lower right-hand
corner.
An example of a note is as follows:
The Ambassador of the Philippines presents his
compliments to His Excellency the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, and has the honor to inform His Excellency that
Mr. Juan Gomez has assumed his functions as
Counselor of the Embassy of the Philippines in
Djakarta, effective today.
Mr. Gomez resides at Suite 304,Hotel des Indes.
The Ambassador of the Philippines avails himself
of this opportunity to reiterate to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs the assurances of his highest consideration.

Djakarta, June 10, 2000

initial
A memorandum is a written
statement on any subject. It
is not essentially different
from a note except that it
does not begin and end with
a formula of courtesy.
Shown below is a copy of the memorandum sent by the Legation of the Philippines in
Mexico to some diplomatic missions, in connection with the candidacy of the
Philippines for a seat in the Security Council of United Nations:

MEMORANDUM
The Philippines believes that as a Southeast Asian State,it should launch its candidacy for the
seat to be vacated by Turkey in the Security Council of the United Nations. It is high time that
Southeast Asia, which has been and still is a focal point in international relations, should be represented
in the Council.

The Philippines does not intend to contest the legitimate aspiration of the Iberian American
States to fill the vacancy to be created by the expiration to the term of Brazil, and of the British
Commonwealth of Nations to fill the seat to be vacated by New Zealand. Neither does the Philippines
intend to diminish the present representation in the Council.

Asia, as a geographical unit, is presently represented by China, Iran, and Turkey. While Turkey
was elected to its present term to succeed a European state, it is geographically in Asia. Moreover, it
should be noted that Turkey attended the Bandung Conference as an Asian country, which reinforces
the claim that the seat to be vacated by it pertains to Asia.

The “Gentlemen’s Agreement” has already been modified, at least in so far as giving Asia
adequate representation in the Council is concerned, The Philippines intends to conserve this
de facto allotment to three seats to Asia. To give Turkey's seat to a European country would increase
European representation in the Council to five and reduce Asian representation to only two, which
demands that one of the three seats presently allotted to Asia should go to Southeast Asia.
Mexico, D. F., September 6, 2000
 An aide memoire is an informal summary
of a conversation or interview between the
foreign minister or his assistant, and a
diplomatic envoy or his representative. As
may be implied from its designation, this form
of communication merely serves as an aid to
memory. In practice, it is usually left at the
foreign office. It is not signed, but is initialed
on the lower right-hand corner.
The following example of an aide memoire, was sent by the
Legation of the United states of America to the Rumanian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

AIDE MEMOIRE
Having taken note of several indications which have recently
appeared in the press, relative to a Project of Law modifying that of
June 3, 2000, on the payment of debts owed abroad by Rumanian
Government concerning this question.
At the same time the Legation wishes to recall to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs its Note No. 104 under date of September 20, 2000, to
the Ministry in which the Legation protested in the name of the
Government of the United States against the application to American
citizens of the provisions of the law of June 3, 2000.
The Government of the United States could not view favorably the
enforcement of an absolute moratorium of six-months duration against
all American creditors without adequate guarantees of ultimate
reimbursement.

Bucharest, November 20, 2000

 A pro memoria is formal record of the
subject discussed. It is distinguished from an
aide memoire in that the latter is an informal
summary of an interview or conversation. The
usual practice is for the diplomatic envoy or
his representative to leave it at the foreign
office, or for the secretary of foreign affairs or
his representative to hand it to the envoy or
his representative.
 Another type of diplomatic correspondence is
the circular note, which is nothing more than an
identic note in the third person, sent by the foreign
office to the chiefs of mission, or by a chief of
mission to his colleagues. It is initialed on the lower
right-hand corner by the sending officer.
 Shown below is an example of circular note:

The Chief of Protocol present his compliments

to Their Excellencies and Messieurs the Chiefs of
Mission, and has the honor to inform them that the
President and Mrs. ____ will be pleased to receive
the members of the Diplomatic Corps and their
ladies at eleven o’clock on the morning of
January 1, 2001 at Malacanang.
The Chief of Protocol avails himself of this
opportunity to reiterate to Their Excellencies and
Messieurs the Chiefs of Mission the assurances of
his highest consideration.
Manila, December 26, 2000
 In diplomatic and consular practice, the
answer to an incoming communication
should, as a general rule, be in the same
form as the communication to which a reply
is being made.
 The maintenance of a record of all officers and
employees of foreign government in the
Philippines;

 The preparation of lists of foreign and diplomatic

and consular personnel in the Philippines;

 Congratulatory messages, and;

 The preparation of the certificate and affixing of the

seal of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to treaties
and other documents.
 SAMPLE STRUCTURE OF A
DIPLOMATIC ESTABLISHMENT
Attaches
Ambassador
Military, Commercial,
Consul General Labor, Tourism,
Minister Counselor
Agricultural, Police,
Welfare
Consul 1st Secretary (Political)

Vice Consul Vice Consul 2nd Secretary (Economics) Officers/Representatives

Welfare, Border,
Consular Assistant 3rd Secretary (Cultural) Crossing, Veterans,
Affairs, Pag-Ibig, SSS
Clerks
Administrative Officer*

Property Officer Finance Officer Records Officer Protocol Officer

*Lowest Ranking Vice
Consul/ 3rd Secretary Clerical Staff Secretarial Staff
can be designated
Administrative Officer Utility / Driver
FUNCTIONS OF DFA
Responsibilities and Functions
 Responsibilities of the Department - The
Department of Foreign Affairs is the
instrumentality of the Philippine Government
which is primarily responsible for promoting
and protecting the interests of the Philippines
in the international community. The following
powers and functions, among others, are
vested in the Department by virtue of this
mandate;
 Conduct the country’s foreign relations;

 Maintain and develop Philippine representation

with foreign governments;

 Maintain and develop Philippine representation in

United Nations Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), and other international and
regional organizations;
 Serve as the channel for matters involving foreign
relations, including official communications to and
from the Republic of the Philippines;

 Negotiate treaties and other agreements pursuant

to instructions of the President, and in coordination
with other government agencies;

 Promote trade,investments, tourism and other

economic activities with other countries in
cooperation with other government agencies and
the private sector;
 Foster cultural relations with other countries and
protect and enhance the image of the Philippines
abroad;

 Undertake activities in cooperation with other

government agencies to inform the international
community about the Philippines;

 Protect and assist Philippine nationals abroad;

 Carry out legal documentation functions as

provided for by law and regulations;
 Monitor and analyze events in other countries and
report them, as appropriate to the President and other
government agencies;

 Initiate, formulate, integrate and submit to the

President short-, medium-, and long-range foreign
policy plans and programs in cooperation with other
government agencies;

 Supervise and direct officials and employees assigned

by other government agencies to Foreign Service
establishments abroad in accordance with the
pertinent laws, rules and inter-agency agreements;
 Recruit, maintain and develop a nationalistic
professional career foreign service based on
merit; and

 Perform such other functions as may be provided

by law.
Functions of Secretary
of
Foreign Affairs
The Secretary shall have the
following functions:
 Act as the primary and principal adviser of the
President in the field of foreign relations;

 Advise the President on the promulgation of

executive orders, rules and regulations,
proclamations and other issuance's relative to
matters under the jurisdiction of the Department;

 Establish policies and standards for the efficient

and affective operation of the Department;
 Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
carry out the Department’s objectives, policies
plans, programs and projects;

 Exercise supervision and control over all functions

and activities of the Department;

 Supervise the administration and operation of

foreign service establishments;
 Delegate authority for the performance of any
function to officers and employees of the
Department; and

 Perform other functions as may be provided by

law or appropriately assigned by the President.
Functions of Embassies
Functions of Diplomatic Missions
 The following are among the principal functions of
diplomatic missions;

 To execute or implement foreign policies of the

Philippines abroad;

 To make representations and conduct

negotiations with foreign governments or
international organizations;
 To interpret faithfully the viewpoint of the
Philippine Government based on official
statements of the President and the Secretary;

 To keep the Philippine Government informed on

political, economic and other developments
abroad of interest to it;

 To disseminate information on the Philippines

and to correct erroneous information about the
country;
 To foster cultural and educational relationships;

 To cultivate friendly relations with other people

and to widen areas of mutual understanding; and

 In collaboration with consular officers an

commercial attaches and representatives, to
promote and protect the trade and economic
interests of the Philippines.
Functions of Consulates
Functions of Consular Establishments
 Consular offices have the following functions:

 To create or develop demand for Philippine

export products and in general, to promote and
protect the trade and other economic interests of
the Philippines;

 To submit reports on commercial, financial and

other economic developments in their districts;
 To administer in appropriate cases the
implementation of Philippine laws and regulations
abroad concerning citizenship, immigration, trade,
navigation and commerce;

 To perform passport and visa services;

 To assist and protect Filipino nationals, including

seamen and other migrant workers;

 To perform registration services including those for

birth and death, solemnize marriages, and
conserve estates of deceased nationals;
 To perform notarial and, in proper cases, other
legal services;

 To examine and certify invoices and documents

covering exports to the Philippines; and

 In the absence of a diplomatic mission in the

country of its jurisdiction, to perform in appropriate
cases the functions of a diplomatic mission.
Number of Embassies
and Consulates:
Embassies 62
Consulates 21
Mission 3
Extension Office 1
Total 87
Number of
Attaches
presently about
200
Number of Honorary
Consulates: 135
 Classification of Diplomatic
Representation Under the
Vienna Convention
 Ambassadors Extraordinary and plenipotentiary,
and papal legates or nuncios, who are
accredited to the heads of states.

 Envoys extraordinary and ministers

plenipotentiary, similarly accredited to the heads
of states.

 Ministers resident, accredited to heads of states

(now infrequent use)
 Charge d’ affaires (the official temporarily in
charge in the absence of the Ambassadors or
Ministers)

 These rules of ranks are now generally

accepted by all states. Seniority at the post
establishes precedence in each rank. The
senior Ambassador is known as, the doyen of
the diplomatic corps in the particular capital.
Privileges and Immunities
 Diplomatic persons have been accorded since
ancient times special privileges and immunities.
 Diplomatic representatives are entitled to the
following privileges and immunities.

 Personal Inviolability- The person of a diplomatic

envoy is inviolable. He shall not be liable to any
form of arrest or detention. It is the duty of the
receiving states to afford him special protection so
as to ensure his personal safety and to safeguard
his personal him against unlawful influence or
molestation, whether by private individuals or by
public officials.
 Inviolability of premises and archives: The
premises occupied by a diplomatic mission, as
well as the private residences of a diplomatic
agent, are also inviolable.

 Such premises cannot be entered or searched and

neither can the goods, records or archives be
detained by local authorities.

 The service of any writs, summons, orders or

processes within the premises of the mission or
residence of the envoy is prohibited.
 The premises of the mission, their furnishings,
and other property thereon and means of
transport of the mission shall be immune from
searches, requisition, attachment, or execution.

 Inviolability extends to the archives and

documents of the mission at all times and
wherever they may be. Inviolability of archives
and documents and correspondence involves a
duty on the part of the receiving state to respect
and protect their confidential character.
 Rights to official communication: The
right of an envoy to communicate with his
government fully and freely is universally
recognized. An envoy may send and receive
messages, whether ordinary or in cipher, by
any of the usual means of communication. He
is likewise free to communicate with other
officials, particularly consuls and with nationals
of his own state who are within the territory of
the receiving state.
 Exemption from local jurisdiction: An envoy is
immune from the criminal and the civil jurisdiction
of the receiving state for all acts, whether official
or private. Thus he cannot be arrested,
prosecuted and punished for any offense he may
commit unless his diplomatic immunity is waived.

 Exemption from subpoena as witness:

Diplomatic representatives cannot be compelled
to testify, without the consent of government,
before any judicial or administrative court in the
receiving state. Neither can they be made to give
testimony even by deposition taken at the
embassy.
 Exemption from taxation: Under the Vienna
Convention, diplomatic agent are exempt from
all dues and taxes, whether personal or real,
national, regional or municipal.

 Exemption from custom duties and

inspections: Articles destined for use of the
mission are in practice exempt from custom
duties and this has been regarded as a rule of
international law.
 Right to display flag: The mission and its
head have the right to display the flag and
emblem of the sending state on the premises of
the mission, including the residence of the head
of the mission,and on his means of transport.

 Freedom of movement
 Duration
 Every person entitled to privileges and
immunities shall enjoy this from the moment
he enters the territory of the receiving state on
proceeding to take up his part, or if he is
already in the territory.

 Such privileges and immunities shall normally

cease upon his departure from the receiving
state.
Filipino Overseas
Philippine Laws and
Regulations
Affecting Filipinos
Overseas
 MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS
FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995
 Republic Act No. 8042 was enacted in June 1995
"to concretise government's commitment to protect
the rights and promote the welfare of migrant
workers, their families, and other overseas Filipinos
in distress. It also provides the framework for
concerted government action in dealing with the
difficulties faced by Filipinos abroad.

 The law seeks to protect the rights and interests of

Filipino workers and other Filipinos abroad through
the specific policies and services
 Policy Guidelines
The programs and services provided for in R.A. 8042 are
anchored on the following policies:

• The dignity of citizens, whether in the country or overseas,

and Filipino migrant workers, in particular, shall be upheld.

• Filipino migrant workers shall be provided with adequate

and timely social, economic, and legal services.

3. Overseas employment shall not be promoted as a means to

sustain economic growth and achieve national development.
The existence of the overseas employment program rests
solely on the assurance that the dignity and fundamental
human rights and freedoms of the Filipino citizen shall not,
at any time, be compromised or violated.
 4. Women and men shall be equal before the law;
women shall have significant role in nation
building.

 5. An effective mechanism shall be instituted to

ensure that the rights and interests of distressed
overseas Filipinos, in general, and Filipino migrant
workers, in particular, documented or
undocumented, are adequately protected and
safeguarded.
6. Filipino migrant workers and all overseas Filipinos
shall have the right to participate in the
democratic decision-making processes of the
State and to be represented in institutions
relevant to overseas employment.

7. The ultimate protection of all migrant workers

shall lie in the possession of skills.

8. Non-governmental organizations shall be

recognized as partners in the protection of Filipino
migrant workers and in the promotion of their
welfare.
 Programs and Services
The following programs and services for overseas Filipinos are
provided for by R.A. 8042:
Name of Agency Concerned Main
Program/Service Features/Highlights

Travel Advisory/ Philippine Embassies and Issuance of travel

Information Dissemination Consulates advisories or
dissemination of
POEA information on labor and
employment conditions
and migration realities and
other facts to adequately
prepare individuals into
making informed and
intelligent decisions about
overseas employment.
 Programs and Services
Migrant Workers OWWA in coordination
Loan Guarantee Fund with GFls
Institutionalization of
financing schemes to
expand grant of pre-
departure loan and
family assistance loan
to Filipino migrant
workers and their
families.
A revolving amount of
P1OO million from the
OWWA was set aside
as a guarantee fund in
favor of participating
government financial
institutions (GFls).
 Programs and Services
Migrant Workers and Philippine Establishment of a 24-hour
Other Overseas Filipinos Embassies/ information and assistance center
in countries where there are large
Resource Centers Consulates with other concentrations of Filipino migrant
government agencies workers. Among the services of the
center are:

. counselling and legal services

. welfare assistance, including
procurement of medical and
hospitalization services
. information programs to promote
social integration, settlement, and
community networking
. training and skills upgrading
. gender sensitive activities to
assist specific needs of women
migrant workers

A counterpart 24-hour information

and assistance center is also
established at the DFA.
 Programs and Services
Shared Government DFA, CFO, DOLE, POEA, Sharing of existing
Information System for OWWA, DOT, DOJ, BI, databases among
Migration NBI, and NSO agencies concerned. The
databases initially include:

. master list of Filipino

migrant workers with
pertinent demographic
information

. inventory of pending
legal cases of Filipino
migrant workers

. master lists of departing/

arriving Filipinos
Programs and Services
. statistical profile on
Filipino migrant workers/
overseas Filipinos/ tourists
. blacklisted foreigners/
undesirable aliens

. basic data on legal

systems, immigration
policies, marriage laws,
and civil and criminal
codes in receiving
countries particularly those
with large numbers of
Filipinos

. list of labor and other

human rights instruments
where receiving countries
are signatories
Programs and Services
. a tracking system of
past and present gender
disaggregated cases
involving male and
female migrant workers

. listing of overseas
posts which may render
assistance to overseas
Filipinos in general, and
migrant workers in
particular.

The second phase

involves linking of
computer facilities to
allow free-flow data
exchanges among
agencies.
 Programs and Services
Emergency Repatriation OWWA Administration, control,
Fund and supervision of a fund
consisting of P100 million
taken from existing OWWA
funds and additional funds
appropriated from the
general appropriations act
for the repatriation of
workers in cases of war,
epidemic, disaster, or
calamities natural or man-
made and other similar
events, and in cases of
DFA repatriation of workers
where the principal or
recruitment agency cannot
be identified.
Repatriation of under aged
migrant workers.
 Programs and Services
Re-placement and DOLE
Monitoring Center
DOLE, OWW A, POEA
Establishment of a
mechanism that will
facilitate re-integration of
returning Filipino migrant
workers into Philippine
society, serve as a
promotion house for their
local employment, and tap
their skills and potentials
for national development.
Formulation of a program
that will motivate migrant
workers to plan for
productive options such as
entry into highly technical
jobs, livelihood, and
entrepreneurial
development, better wage
employment, and
investment of savings.
 Programs and Services TESDA, TLRC
Legal Assistant for Migrant
Workers
Legal Assistance Fund
Provision of training to
returning overseas workers,
giving priority to returnees
who had been employed as
domestic helpers and
entertainers.
DFA Office of Legal Creation of the Legal
Assistance for Migrant Assistant position who will
Workers Affairs be responsible for the
provision and overall
coordination of all legal
assistance services to
Filipino migrant workers, as
well as overseas Filipinos in
distress.
DFA Office of Legal Creation of a fund to be
Assistance for Migrant used to pay for legal
Workers Affairs services of migrant workers
and overseas Filipinos in
distress, specifically for:
 Programs and Services
Congressional Migrant DOLE, DOST
Workers Scholarship Fund
. fees for foreign lawyers
. bail bonds
. court fees and charges and
other litigation expenses
The fund, in the amount of P1OO
million, was sourced from the
President's Contingency and
Social Funds and the Welfare
Fund for Overseas Workers.
Establishment of scholarship
fund to benefit deserving
migrant workers and/or their
immediate descendants below
21 years old who intend to
pursue courses or training in the
field of science and technology.
Its implementation is subject to
the availability of funds.
 Programs and Services
In January 2000, President Joseph E. Estrada
issued Executive Order No. 203, establishing the
Inter-Agency Committee on the Shared
Government Information System for Migration.
This inter-agency body is envisioned to put in
place a mechanism to harness data and
information exchanges among the 17 member
and support agencies to better serve the interests
and well being of Filipinos overseas.
 Other Provisions
Among the other provisions of the law include the
following:

1. Selective deployment of Filipino migrant workers to

countries where their rights are protected

2. Definition of illegal recruitment activities, and providing

appropriate penalties thereof

3. Provision of incentives to professionals and highly-

skilled Filipinos abroad especially in the field of science
and technology to enable them to participate in and
contribute to national development
 Other Provisions
4. Phase-out of the regulatory functions of the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

5. Exemption of overseas Filipino workers from the

payment of travel tax and airport fees

6. Designation of June 7 as Migrant Workers' Day

 The Case of Migration and OFW’s role in Philippine
Economy
The Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995
(R.A. 8042)
Brief History
History tells us that early migration occurred
during the advent of Spanish colonialism of the
Philippines, specifically during the era of the
Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade (circa 1565-
1815) when early Filipinos worked as laborers
and crew of Spanish vessels making the journey
yearly – one outgoing, the other incoming –
between Manila and Acapulco de Juarez,
reaching as far as Callao in Peru, and the shores
of the Americas.
The remittances were accompanied by accounts of
rampant racial and wage discrimination, and all
forms of physical and mental abuses suffered by
overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), contract
substitution, and gross violations of international
labor standards, and the applicable United Nations’
covenants such as but not limited to the UN
Declaration of Human Rights, UN Declaration in
Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination adopted
in 1963, Convention Concerning Discrimination in
Respect to Employment and Occupation, among
many others.
The fate and typical story of the Contemplacions,
the Magas, the Balabagans, and the many unsung
modern-day heroes and victims of rank injustice,
culture-shocks, dangerous zones of employment,
and slave-mentality of abusive foreign employers,
and discrimination of all forms awakened the
Ramos Government and the Nation from its
complacency and apathy.
 Introduction:
•The modern-day record of migration and
the export of Filipino labor have started
in the 1960’s and 1970’s. By 1980’s
manpower export had to happen to
alleviate the twin problems of
unemployment and the deficit in the
balance of trade. It is the offspring of
national poverty and lack of sustainable
employment opportunities in this
country.
The Marcos dictatorial government
required homeward remittance of
overseas workers’ earnings. Because of
the precious remittances of overseas
contract workers (OCWs), the overseas
employment meant only to be a stopgap
measure, but became a top dollar earning
industry. Sacrificing the Philippine
capacity for industrialization and the
Philippine economic growth, next only to
Japan during the early 1960’s.
• KAIBIGAN ng OCWS
• DAWN- Development Action for Women Network
• the POEA- Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration
• the OWWA- Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration
• the TESDA- Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority
• the OLAMWA- Office of the Legal Assistant for
Migrant Workers Affairs
• DFA- Department of Foreign Affairs
• NLRC- National Labor Relations Commission
• CFO- Commission on Filipinos Workers
• DOLE- Department of Labor and Employment
• PASEI- Philippine Association of Service Exporters,
Incorporated
Population of Overseas Filipino
United States 4,000,000
Saudi Arabia 1,019,577 (2006)
Malaysia 822,910
Canada 437,940
UAE 250,000
Japan 258,977
Italy 200,000
Mexico 200,000
United Kingdom 165,564
Taiwan 158,116
Singapore 136,189
Hong Kong 130,810
Australia 129,400
Kuwait 144,955
South Korea 70,000
Germany 53,995
Population of Overseas Filipino
Guam 45,600
Qatar 58,358
France 47,745
Israel 37,155
Lebanon 30,000
Austria 29,818
Greece 27,043
Spain 26,505
New Zealand 16,938
Norway 19,291
Netherlands 18,456
Macau 18,447
Sweden 17,343
Nigeria 14,146
Belgium 12,810
•·The Household and Related workers category topped the list,
accounting for 29.7% of the total deployed landbasednewly hires.
This was followed by Factory and Related workers (14.0%),
Construction workers (14.0%), Building Caretakers and related
workers (5.8%), Hotel and Restaurant Related workers (5.1%),
Caregivers and Caretakers (4.7%), Medical Related workers
(4.0%), Engineers and Related workers (3.6%), Dressmakers,
Tailors, and Related workers (2.5%0, and Overseas Performing
Artists (2.4%)

.•·The top 10 country-destinations of OFWs, both for new hires

and rehires were: (1) Saudi Arabia, (2) United Arab Emirates, (3)
Hong Kong, (4) Kuwait, (5) Qatar, (6) Taiwan, (7) Singapore, (8)
Italy, (9) United Kingdom, and (10)South Korea. Except for Hong
Kong and Taiwan, deployment of OFWs in all destinations went up
by an average of 16.2% in 2006.
 Allocation of Remittances Income
By Frequency Mention
Main Allocation of No. Percent
Income
Practically everything spent 30.8
on household expenses
74

Payment of debts 92 38.3

Savings for education of 24 10.0
children

Savings for purchase of 12 5.0

house and lot

Repair of House 2 0.8

Savings for purchase of farm 1 0.4
land

Capital for business 5 2.1

Purchase of furniture 28 11.6
Personal cash savings 2 0.8
TOTAL 240 100.0
BENEFITS TO THE PHILIPPINES
 Foreign exchange Remittance
(foreign reserves and strengthen the
value of our money)

 Overseas employment

 Reduce the unemployment

 Negative effects of Migration
 Family separation

 Children/s are deprive by parental guidance from the

mother or the father

 Victims of discrimination, in wages and other

employment benefits

 Rampant abuse and even death of the OFWs

 OFWs are exposed to dangerous/hazardous

employment like civil riots and suicide bombing.
 Positive effects of Migration
. OFWs gain experience and work ethics
. Improve efficiency
. More income
. Provides better education to their
children
…END…