MANILA — The Philippine government will convene overseas Filipino workers, government agencies, private-sector partners, and migrant advocates for the country’s largest Filipino Migrant Workers Day celebration, anchored by the inaugural OFW Global Summit set for June 7.
The Department of Migrant Workers announced the summit Monday, with Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac saying the event is designed to strengthen support systems for migrant workers while recognizing their contributions to the nation’s economy and development.
“Our OFWs do not only work for their families. They are also a significant part of our country’s development,” Cacdac said, adding that the summit responds directly to directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to consolidate government and private support for Filipino migrants.
The summit will be held at the Quezon City MICE Center and is expected to draw around 1,000 sea- and land-based OFWs, with migrant communities abroad participating through livestreaming and virtual platforms. Carrying the theme “Serbisyong Buo, Kalingang Totoo: Inclusive Empowerment of Global Filipinos for Resilience and Nation Building,” the event will feature plenary discussions, workshops, job matching programs, entrepreneurship sessions, and policy forums on migrant concerns.
DMW Director Francisco Aguilar Jr., the summit’s overall chairman, called the event a milestone for the relatively young department. “This is the first opportunity since the department was established that we will have a celebration of this scale,” he said.
Participating government agencies include the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund, the Philippine Statistics Authority, and the Bureau of Immigration, all of which will provide frontline services on-site.
Assistant Secretary Kiko de Guzman noted that the summit is closely tied to the National Reintegration Network caravan, which has already reached most regions nationwide. Cacdac added that discussions will also cover priority legislation affecting migrant workers and lessons drawn from past crises impacting OFWs.
The DMW said the summit is part of a broader month-long June celebration that will also include a job fair, a Filipino seafarers week, and a Migrant Workers Health Summit.
