MANILA, Philippines — About 350 non-resident Filipinos (NRFs), government officials, private sector leaders, and civil society organizations from almost 30 countries converge today for the 2026 Filipino Diaspora Summit.
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) led the historic gathering with the theme: "Transformation Through Diaspora Engagement: Harnessing Filipino Global Power in Advancing the Philippines' Cultural, Economic, and Political Goals.
CFO Secretary Dante Ang II said the summit recognized the over five million NRFs worldwide as "strategic partners" in Philippine national development and strengthen sustained engagement toward shared development goals.
Unlike other migrant-serving government agencies, the CFO's constituency comprises Filipino permanent residents abroad, naturalized foreign citizens, dual citizens, and marriage migrants whose sustained engagement represent enduring assets for Philippine development in cultural, economic, and political spheres.
The summit provides a platform to harness that potential and translate diaspora commitment into concrete partnerships and transformative action.
The CFO, established under Batas Pambansa 79, is dedicated to the welfare and empowerment of expatriates or NRFs.