The Philippine Experience in the Measurement of Migration: Perspectives of an Emigration Country Ma. Alcestis Abrera Mangahas International Forum on Migration Statistics January 15-16, 2018, Paris, France
The Philippines as a Sending Country A long history of data collection and archives Institutionalized inter-agency coordination committees Use of a variety of data sources national and local surveys, administrative data, research findings Over 25 government and private agencies engaged in collection of data 2
Issues and Concerns Inconsistences in data definitions Differences in language and methodologies Controversy in the estimated numbers of Filipinos overseas and overseas workers Inadequate institutional consultations in reform and expansion of data collection 3
NEDA-SWS 2017 Study A comprehensive study compiling currently available data on international migration, analyze gaps and recommend improvements to support policy formulation and development planning International Migration Almanac 2017 Scoping Report Recommendations 4
Organizational Frameworks Migrant Counts Migration and Development Direction of Migration Stocks and Flows Legal Status Option for Foreign Employment Business of Recruitment Vulnerability at Work Social Protection and Political Participation OF and OFW Family Wellbeing 5
Findings On Nature of the Phenomenon Inherent difficulty of measuring from the source country as restrictive migration channels may mask real intentions Legal definitions and Operational Frameworks vs. International Standards Inconsistences in Practice Survey language, residency rules, non-standardized variables Data access 6
Findings Incomplete and Missing Data Inattention to student migration; gap on return migration; poor monitoring of foreign in-migration Complexity of irregular migration SDG Data requirements are not yet started: Remittance prices; Recruitment/migration costs Bettter data collection on migration and development is needed: Vulnerability of Workers; Business Prices; Family Well-being; Social Protection and Political Participation 7
Recommendations Governance and leadership Small, simple but essential improvements New data collection Investment in institutional capacity. Regular Reporting on the State of International Migration Data 8
9 Selected Highlights
Millions The Permanent and Temporary Stocks Chart 3A. Stock Estimates of Permanent, Temporary and Irregular Overseas Filipinos, in millions, 2000-2013 Flows Chart 3B. Outflows of Overseas Filipinos: Registered Emigrants and Deployed Workers, in millions, 2011-2015 POEA CFO 4.87 2.00 1.80 1.69 1.80 1.84 1.83 1.84 Permanent 4.21 1.60 1.40 1.20 1.00 0.80 0.60 1.16 0.40 0.20 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.09 0.00 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Sources: Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration 10
Thousands OFWs: More Land than Sea Chart 7. Cumulative Total of Deployed Land-based Workers and Seafarers, in 000, 1975-2015 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 Land-based 200 0 Sea-based 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2014 2015 Source: The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration 11
Emigrant Destinations: US, Canada, Australia and Japan 100% Chart 10. Top Emigrant Destination Countries, in %, 1987-2015 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Canada 36.24% 1981 1985 1987 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2014 2015 USA* CANADA JAPAN AUSTRALIA ITALY NEW ZEALAND GERMANY UNITED KINGDOM SOUTH KOREA SPAIN USA 43.89% Australia 5.23% Japan 4.72% Italy 2.64 % Note: *USA and Insular Area (American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) Source: Commission on Filipinos Overseas 12
OFW Destinations: A Dominant Middle East and Significant East Asian Flows 100% Chart 11. Top OFW Destinations, in %, 1987-2015 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1987 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2014 2015 Saudi Arabia UAE Singapore Qatar Hong Kong Kuwait Taiwan Malaysia Bahrain Canada Japan Oman Saudi Arabia 28.24% UAE 15.79% Hong Kong 5.96% Singapore 9.84% Qatar 9.26% Source: The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration 13
The Business of Recruitment Chart 31. Licensed Private Recruitment and Manning Agencies, By category of license, 1982-2015 14 Source: The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
Vulnerability Chart 35. Reported OFW Cases at Philippine Embassies and Missions, 2013-2016 30,000 25,000 24,812 20,000 15,000 10,000 12,068 6,631 10,177 6,894 In distress Repatriated 8,295 5,000 0 2,798 2,998 509 523 324 251 2013 2014 2015 2016 Human Trafficking 15 Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Exchange Remittances Chart 47. Overseas Filipinos Cash Remittances, in 000, 1979-2015 Chart 48. Frequency in Receiving Remittances, in %, 2015 24,348 22,124 Often 71% 18,763 Sometimes 15% Seldom 8% 10,689 Never 4% 4,878 6,050 No answer 2% 103 421 687 1,181 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2014 2015 Source: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 16
How OFW Families Spend their Remittances Chart 52. How OFW Families Spend their Remittances, by Type of Expenditure, in %, 2007, 2010, 2016 Source: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 17
Moving Out of Poverty Chart 53. OFW Filipino Households Identifying Themselves as Poor, Compared with Non-OFW Households, in %, 2001-2016 70 60 51% 50 40 30 40% With OFW in the HH Without OFW in the HH 20 10 0 2001 2002 2003 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Source: Social Weather Stations 18