The Scalabrini Migration Center and the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the Province of Laguna co-organized a forum to share the findings of the Child Health and Migrant Parents in Southeast Asia (CHAMPSEA) research project. The forum was held at the LGU Café, San Pablo City Mega Capitol Complex last February 24, 2026.

Child Health and Migrant Parents in Southeast Asia Champsea III is a longitudinal study that has been conducted in two major source provinces of overseas Filipino workers– Laguna and Malolos – in three waves: the baseline study in 2008, a follow-up in 2016, and a second follow-up in 2023.

SMC is grateful to the local governments of San Pablo City and the Municipality of Bay, the officials and community supporters of the sampled barangays, and the families and households for their generosity and trust which made the study possible. SMC cooperated with the San Pablo Colleges in 2008 and 2016 and with University of the Philippines Los Baños in 2023. Sharing the findings of the study with the communities where the research was done is an important part of SMC’s research practice.

The SMC team—Dr. Marla Asis, Dr. Geoffrey Ducanes and Ms. Eunice Tejada—presented highlights from the four policy briefs based on the 2023 survey. The panel of reactors comprised colleagues from CSOs (Center for Migrant Advocacy, Amare Missio MIgranti, and Atikha), the Department of Migrant Workers Region 4A and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Region 4A. The reactors appreciated the research-based knowledge produced by CHAMPSEA. Those providing direct services to migrants and their families shared that they tend to encounter problematic situations while CHAMPSEA findings tend to show similar or better outcomes for OFW families compared to non-migrant families.

SMC thanks PESO-Laguna for the fruitful collaboration.