THE Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the Embassy of the Czech Republic have forged a partnership to elevate support, engagement and welfare frameworks for nonresident Filipinos in the European country.
CFO Secretary Dante Ang II met with Czech Ambassador Karel Hejč and Deputy Head of Mission Eva Tenzin to map out collaborative avenues on bilateral diaspora engagement, critical migration data exchanges and cross-border delivery of government services.
This comes as the Filipino diaspora in the Czech Republic displays rapid growth. As of mid-2024, an estimated 8,783 Filipinos reside in the country, driving key sectors such as manufacturing, information technology, health and automotive industries.
Bilateral ties between Manila and Prague have experienced a strong upswing following high-profile state visits and agreements designed to boost mutual economic and labor cooperation.
During the meeting, Ang detailed the CFO’s flagship institutional mechanisms designed to safeguard and connect overseas Filipinos.
These include the Linkapil sa Pag-unlad ng Pilipinas program, which facilitates diaspora-driven donations to local development projects; and BaLinkBayan, a digital portal integrating e-government services and business opportunities for overseas Filipinos.
Ang also cited Youth Leaders in Diaspora, the 1343 Actionline against human trafficking, the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas, and the agency’s mandatory comprehensive predeparture programs.
He noted that the agency has ramped up its research on Filipinos transitioning abroad through employment, education, family reunification, or marriage.
Hejč, on the other hand, outlined the Czech Republic’s local support frameworks, including digital emergency registration systems for foreign nationals and civic services available to Filipinos planning to relocate to the European nation.
