This advocacy visit to the Philippines is being organised by the Platform of Filipino Migrant Organisations in Europe (Platform) together with EMPOWER - The Global Campaign on Overseas Voting. [The event is hosted locally by KAKAMMPI and is co-convened by groups such as Elagda.]  With a new president and new members in the Senate and the House of Representatives, we believe it is very opportune to give a major push to the passing of the necessary legislation on overseas voting, as well as to raise other substantive policy issues on Philippine migration and overseas Filipinos.

Advocacy Visit Proposed Programme

A.  Proposed Objectives
B.  Overall Schedule
C.  Confirmation and Registration

A. Proposed Objectives (to be further concretized):

1. To seek public commitment (official pronouncement) from President Macapagal-Arroyo and the 12th Congress for immediate legislation on the overseas voting and the setting up of a regular committee on migrant affairs in the Congress.

2. To put forward a substantive migrant agenda to the president, the Congress, the PO & NGO community, and the media--asserting that Filipino migrants are significant actors in the development of the Philippines and in host countries.


B.  Overall Schedule:

Sunday August 19th to Thursday August 23rd

• Sunday August 19th pm:  Briefing & Finalisation of Preparations at KAKAMMPI
• Monday August 20th:  Public Forum with Media
• Tuesday Aug 21st: Visit & Dialogue with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
• Wednesday Aug 22nd:  Dialogue with Senate Committees (am) & House of Representatives Committees (pm)
• Thursday Aug 23rd:  Press Conference and Assessment

The sequencing of the activities will still need to be worked out in the Philippines in coordination with KAKAMMPI but the dates are confirmed.

Special note regarding the International Solidarity Conference:  All participants are cordially invited to attend the Philippine International Solidarity Conference, which is being organised by the Philippine Solidarity Center Europe (PSCE-KSP), PGX, and a number of hosting organisations in the Philippines. The Conference will be held in the UP Diliman campus from August 24 to 26. Registration and reception will be at UP Diliman in the afternoon of August 23. The conference sessions begin on August 24 in the afternoon. A workshop or caucus on migration issues is also planned to be included at the conference. It is anticipated that there will be participants from different parts of the world, so it should be very interesting for all of us. A conference programme will be sent later - in the meantime refer to http://www.philsol.nl or e-mail philsol@knoware.nl for further details.


C. Confirmation and Registration

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM.

Questions? Click here.