08 January 2015 – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Doha and the Philippine School in Doha (PSD), successfully conducted the forum “Ugnayan sa Middle East: Engagement, Empowerment, Enterprise (U+ME=Eᵌ)” last November 28, 2014 at the PSD Auditorium.
This forum aimed to encourage information exchange and dialogue between and amongst stakeholders through interactive plenary discussions, workshop sessions and open forum. This program, together with subsequent similar fora to be held in the United Arab Emirates, will hopefully lead to the formation of a Middle East & Africa Network of Filipino Diaspora (MEANFiD).
Speaking on behalf of Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Crescente R. Relacion, First Secretary and Consul Gonaranao B. Musor lauded the forum for not just seeking to engage the Filipino community, but also to empower them and instill the value of enterprise for their long-term economic security.
Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Welfare Officer Amelia T. Empaynado delivered on behalf of Labor Attaché Leopoldo B. De Jesus the presentation entitled, “Dynamics of Filipino Migration to the Middle East: Challenge and Prospects for Engagement.” Empaynado emphasized that “while maximizing the economic contributions of Overseas Filipinos (OFs) to the Philippines’ economic development, there is also a need to continuously inculcate their Makabayan values.”
To serve as a model for the establishment of the MEANFiD, Mr. Gene Alcantara of the European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD) talked about the history of his organization’s formation.
Naga City Mayor John G. Bongat spoke about Naga’s successful program for mainstreaming migration into Naga City’s local development plans. Recognized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Naga City’s initiatives under this program include the establishment of a City Advisory Committee on OFs to better advance OF interests in their community, as well as various initiatives to protect the economic security of OFs and their families through livelihood and micro-enterprise activities and investments in priority areas and activities.
This forum was the first leg followed by similar gatherings in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah on December 01, 02, and 03, 2014, respectively.
Aside from selected Filipino community members in Doha, the forum was also attended by the Embassy’s Administrative Officer and Attaché Victoria P. Artificio and Mr. Gary P. Launto, Assistance-to-Nationals Unit (ANU) Assistant and Attaché, as well as a representative of the Filipino community in Oman. END