Another Philippine head of state, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is about to end a
term come 30 June 2010. The Arroyo presidency can be marked as a turning point for the
overseas migration phenomenon in the Philippines: laws, programs and policies related to
overseas employment have evolved from 2001 to 2009. At the same time, the overseas
migration phenomenon (while a reality given globalization) seems to be an economic
phenomenon that the Philippine economy cannot do without. Overseas migration also seems to
be relevant to Philippine development, even in the absence of a formal policy stating that
overseas employment is a national strategy for Philippine development (Jeremaiah Opiniano,
2010).
As Arroyo ends her term and a new President is about to come in, how has President
Arroyo fared in terms of migration and development? What can the forthcoming government do
so that the government’s systemic reliance —or addiction— to overseas migration is lessened,
and the country’s ability to achieve equitable socio-economic development is accelerated?
This policy brief will present migration-and-development outcomes during the Arroyo
administration under five themes: migration management, labor markets, homeland
development contributions of overseas Filipinos and their remittances, international migration
and social development, and harnessing the development contributions of overseas Filipinos.