COMMISSION on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Secretary Dante Ang II attended the 2026 European Network of Filipino Diaspora (E iD) in Bern, Switzerland.
With Marie Del Rosario Apattad of the CFO Project Management Division, Ang was joined by E iD Chairman Marison Rodriguez and members of the E iD Board in a courtesy visit to Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Bernard Faustino Dy.
During the meeting, E iD leaders presented their continuing initiatives to support and assist Filipino communities across Europe. Discussions with CFO officials focused on concerns that affect the ability of overseas Filipinos to work, settle and maintain ties with the Philippines.
The gathering brought together diaspora leaders, Philippine government representatives and community organizations to discuss issues confronting Filipino communities in Europe, including the recognition of professional credentials, welfare, residency and citizenship, and property ownership in the Philippines.
Dy underscored the important role of Filipino community organizations in complementing Philippine government efforts and responding to the needs of Filipinos in their respective host countries.
The conference marked a leadership transition for E iD, with delegates electing a new set of officers for the 2027–2028 term. Apattad assisted in the electoral process together with E iD adviser and founding chairman Gene Alcantara.
The CFO has maintained its partnership with E iD since the network was established during the 2012 Diaspora to Development Conference in Rome. The organization has since expanded to 13 chapters across Europe, providing a platform for Filipino associations and leaders to coordinate initiatives and raise common concerns.
The CFO said its continued engagement with E iD forms part of efforts to strengthen partnerships with diaspora organizations and ensure that the concerns of nonresident Filipinos are incorporated into government programs and policies.
The Bern gathering highlighted the growing role of organized Filipino communities in Europe as partners of the Philippine government in protecting the interests of overseas Filipinos and maintaining their links to their home country.
