A dialogue on the “Interrelations between Public Policies, Migration and Development in the Philippines” was held on 5 and 6 December at The Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila.

Organized by the OECD Development Centre and the European Commission, in collaboration with the National Economic and Development Authority, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the Scalabrini Migration Center, the two-day event featured presentations on findings and policy recommendations from the recently concluded project, ‘Interrelations between Public Policies, Migration and Development (IPPMD).’ The research project—which examined how migration influences sectoral policies, and how sectoral policies affect migration—was co-funded by the EU Thematic Programme on Migration and Asylum and was carried out by the OECD Development Centre in ten partner countries Asia, Africa and Latin America. In the Philippines, the study was implemented by Scalabrini Migration Center.

The dialogue served as venue to share findings from the Philippine study with policymakers and representatives from academia, civil society and international organizations. Discussions tackled the policy recommendations of the IPPMD and how these could be translated into concrete action plans that link migration with sectoral policies. The findings and recommendations are timely in light of the ongoing formulation of the Philippine Development Plan for 2017-2022.

Consultation meetings were previously held in June 2013, the launch of the project in the Philippines, and in July 2015, when preliminary findings were shared at a meeting held at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

*Photo credit: Commission on Filipinos Overseas