Registration Open for Filipino Diaspora Summit 2026

PRESS RELEASE

17 March 2026

CFO: Registration open for Filipino Diaspora Summit 2026

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) is inviting overseas Filipino community leaders to register for the Filipino Diaspora Summit to be held in Manila on June 16, 2026.

The summit, themed “Transformation through Diaspora Engagement: Harnessing Filipino Global Power in Advancing the Philippines’ Cultural, Economic, and Political Goals,” coincides with the CFO’s 46th anniversary on June 16, 2026. It aims to serve as a strategic platform to move beyond traditional migration management and toward

a future where the diaspora is a cornerstone of the country’s national development.

Registration for the Filipino Diaspora Summit is free, but slots for participants are limited. Register now at tinyurl.com/FilipinoDiasporaSummit2026.

Defining the Diaspora

While many equate migration with temporary work, the Filipino Diaspora also refers to the more than 6 million Filipinos who have established permanent roots abroad. This includes naturalized citizens of other countries, permanent residents, dual citizens,

and the "young diaspora"—the second and third-generation descendants of Filipinosborn overseas.

CFO’s strategic pivot

Established in 1980, the CFO is an agency under the Office of the President specifically mandated to nurture the link between the Philippines and its permanent migrants. Unlike the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), which focuses on the

welfare, protection, and deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with temporary contracts, the CFO focuses on long-term diaspora engagement.

As the CFO marks 46 years of service, the summit stands as a historic opportunity to align Philippine strategy with global best practices, ensuring that Filipinos, wherever they may be, remain vital architects of the nation’s future.

The CFO’s mission is to ensure that even those who have lived abroad for decades remain tethered to the Philippines through three strategic pillars:

Economic: By moving beyond remittances and encouraging diaspora investments, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship

Political: Strengthening advocacy, dual citizenship participation, and policy influence.

Cultural: Ensuring the youth and descendants maintain a sense of belonging through language, arts, and heritage programs.

A summit for 'Bagong Pilipinas'

The full-day summit will feature four thematic panels designed to translate "diaspora capital" into concrete action: Diaspora advocacy and policy influence; economic contributions through investment, entrepreneurship, cultural preservation and

educational diplomacy; and engaging the young diaspora and the next generation of leaders.

The Filipino Diaspora Summit will be capped with the signing of a Declaration of Commitments, a document articulating shared principles for collaboration between the global community and local development actors.

Registration is free, slots may be limited

The Filipino Diaspora Summit is open to all interested participants free of charge. To

confirm attendance, please complete the official registration form:

tinyurl.com/FilipinoDiasporaSummit2026.

Registration for participants is open until May 15, 2026.

For additional information, the public may contact the CFO’s Policy, Planning, and Research Division at pprd@cfo.gov.ph