Article 29
17. Please provide information on the measures taken to promote the birth registration
of Filipino migrant children abroad, including those in an irregular situation, and
to ensure the birth registration of foreign migrant children in the State party
52. All Philippine Consuls serve as civil registrars in their respective jurisdictions. They are
responsible for reporting all foreign vital events (births, marriages, deaths) that occur
among Filipinos abroad, even if they are irregular migrants. They also conduct consular
missions to places which are far from the embassies and consulates in order to, among other
tasks, register Filipino children. In addition, representations are also being made with the
host countries to allow registration of Filipino children born in the territories regardless of
immigration status of Filipino parents.
53. Philippine laws63 allow registration of children born to migrants at the local civil
registration office in the places where the birth occurred.
Article 33
18. Please provide information on pre-departure programmes for Filipino nationals
considering migration. In this regard, please indicate the measures taken by the
State party to implement the recommendations contained in paragraph 22 (b) to
(d) of the Committee’s previous concluding observations
54. The PDOS is a mandatory training conducted by accredited providers for all departing
migrant workers in preparation for new life overseas. It enables OFWs to successfully adjust
to their new environments. Language training and culture familiarization courses are
provided for free and are mandatory for all household workers. The PDOS also includes
stress management and basic life support skills.
55. The PDOS is also conducted for Filipino emigrants; Filipino spouses of foreign
nationals, and exchange visitor and Au Pairs programmes participants to ensure
preparedness for the psychosocial challenges that come with leaving the home country.
56. The PEOS is also conducted to provide information to prospective migrants at an
earlier stage64. Designed to help individuals considering to work abroad make informed
decisions, the PEOS provides information on the realities of migration or overseas
employment. It teaches the processes in applying for overseas work and avoiding illegal
recruitment. It is a comprehensive and massive public information and education
programme of government that uses multi-media organizations, church-groups, NGOs,
local government units, schools and other relevant private entities. It specifically targets
areas with high deployment of OFWs and high incidence of illegal recruitment, as well as
communities rendered vulnerable by calamities and conflicts.
19. Please provide information on the measures taken to ensure that migrant workers
arriving in, or preparing to come to, the State party have access to clear information
on immigration procedures, including full information on exit and entry visa
guidelines and registration. Please clarify what Government institution is
responsible for providing such information and if any coordinated policies,
programmes or legislation have been developed to ensure transparency and
accountability in this process
57. The BI is the primary government agency responsible for implementing immigration
laws, rules and regulation of the State party. It is the main information source on immigration
procedures which available and accessible through public posting and in the BI website
(www.immigration.gov.ph)
and
social
media
(Facebook:
facebook.com/
OfficialBureauofImmigration; Twitter: twitter.com/immigrationPH).
92
63
Such as the Law on Registry of Civil Status (Commonwealth Act No. 3753)
64
For 2012, there were 170,378 PEOS participants all over the Philippines.