This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the Republic of the Philippines (hereafter referred to as Philippines) migration governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.

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The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Intelligence Unit. Funding is provided by IOM Member States. 

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• The Migrant Health Unit coordinates the overall implementation of the Migrant Health Program which, while inclusive of all migrants, is more directed to overseas Filipino workers. 
• Migrant workers and residents have access to the Social Security System provided that they contribute to the social security fund or their country reciprocates the provision of social security benefits to overseas Filipinos. 
• Filipino citizens living in another country can vote in national elections either by mail or in person at diplomatic missions. 
• Executive Order No. 163 (2022) was implemented to create an Inter-Agency Committee on  the  Protection  of  Refugees,  Stateless  Persons  and  Asylum  Seekers. 

Areas with potential for further development 

• Foreign nationals have access to emergency Government-funded health services only if they take up voluntary membership in the national social health insurance benefits scheme. 
• While migrants can access education through a Special Study Permit issued to all international students up to the age of 18, they do not have equal access to public education as Filipino citizens. 
• Not all temporary migrants are entitled to apply for an indefinite residence permit under equal conditions.
• The Philippines does not have a specific strategy or policy for combating discrimination, racism or xenophobia against migrants.

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• Different national government agencies process and monitor the employment of foreign migrants in the country, depending on the industry and employment category. 
• The Overseas Filipinos–CFO Online Registration System offers an online Pre-departure Orientation Seminar for migrating Filipinos, Filipino partners of foreign nationals, and former Filipino citizens or dual nationals.
• The Commission on Filipinos Overseas coordinates efforts to engage with the diaspora population.

Areas with potential for further development 

• The Philippines does not have a specific authority responsible for designing and coordinating the implementation of an overall migration policy. 
• Though several laws regulate migration issues, the Philippines does not have a national migration policy or strategy.
• The Philippines regularly collects data on Overseas Filipino Workers but not on international migrants residing or working in the country. 

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• The Philippines is a member of the Regional Consultative Process on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labor for Countries of Origin in Asia, the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, as well as the Abu Dhabi Dialogue and the Asia–Europe Meeting. 
• As of 2022, the Philippines has 52 bilateral migration treaties with other countries and five regional migration mobility agreements with other countries.
• The country engages with CSOs and the private sector, both formally and informally, in agenda-setting and the implementation of migration-related programmes.
• The Philippines engages members of its diaspora and expatriate communities in the development of migration policy.

Areas with potential for further development 

• The partnerships of the Philippines with various organizations, both at the national and local levels, are ingrained in government operations but may not be formally documented or established through memorandums.

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• The Philippines’ labour protection mechanisms are gender-responsive and apply equally to both nationals and migrants. 
• The Philippines has formalized criteria for recognizing foreign qualifications for some professions within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 
• The country has developed measures that promote ethical recruitment for Filipino migrant workers. 
• The National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) (2022–2028) includes Filipino “migrant workers and their families” and “forcibly displaced persons” as target segments for financial inclusion.

Areas with potential for further development 

• The Philippines does not have a national assessment monitoring the labour market demand for migrants or monitoring the effects of emigrants on the domestic labour market. 
• The country does not have different types of work visas to attract specific labour skills. 
• International students are charged higher fees than nationals, and there are quotas imposed for international students in medicine and dentistry courses.

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• The Philippine Development Plan 2017–2022 aims to harmonize government programmes and initiatives relating to internal armed conflict and seeks to protect the rights and promote the interests of vulnerable groups (including women, indigenous peoples, children, the elderly and internally displaced persons).
• The Philippines has strategies in place for addressing migration linked to environmental degradation and the adverse effects of climate change.
• The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Assistance to Nationals Units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development implements measures to assist nationals living abroad in times of crises. 

Areas with potential for further development 

• There are no specific strategies to assist migrants before, during and post crisis in the country. 
• Communication systems in place to receive information on the evolving nature of crises and on how to access assistance through mobile alerts are focused on the protection of nationals only.

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

• The Bureau of Immigration’s Border Control Cluster runs a centralized Border Control Information System that processes arriving and departing passengers. 
• The Philippines has measures in place to assist the return and reintegration of its nationals who have emigrated. 
• The Philippines expanded and strengthened its Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act through Republic Act No. 11862 (2022), empowering authorities to address the Internet and digital aspects of human trafficking. 
• The country has policies and procedures in place for the timely identification of migrants in vulnerable situations and to provide them with adequate referral and protection services.  

Areas with potential for further development 

• The Philippines does not have a policy or a strategy to ensure that migrant detention is used only as a measure of last resort. 
• The Philippines actively supports the pre-departure medical requirements of Overseas Filipino Workers but can enhance the post-arrival medical assistance or screening of returning OFWs as part of return and reintegration efforts. 
• The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking has robust data collection and management on Filipino victims of trafficking, but there is no or insufficient data on foreign nationals that were trafficked to or across the Philippines.