18 March 2024, CANBERRA – Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Secretary Romulo V. Arugay met over 50 Filipino community leaders and members at the Ugnayan sa Canberra held on 16 March 2024 at the Embassy of the Philippines in Canberra. The Ugnayan sa Canberra marked the inaugural session of the CFO’s Ugnayan sa Australia 2024 to be followed by Ugnayan sessions in Sydney and Melbourne. The CFO delegation was led by Secretary Romulo V. Arugay, CFO Chairperson.

Ambassador Ma. Hellen De La Vega commended the continued dedication and commitment of the CFO under the leadership of Secretary Arugay in promoting the interests, rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos in Australia. Through the Ugnayan sa Canberra, the CFO and the Embassy are directly working together to engage and empower the Filipino community, in line with the Philippine government’s objective of achieving transformational change in the country under the President’s Bagong Pilipinas campaign.

The Ambassador expressed her appreciation to the leaders and members of the Filipino Community organizations in ACT and Australia for their significant contribution to the multicultural society of Australia.

Secretary Arugay stated that one of the directives that he set out for the Commission for 2024 is to revive the programs that strengthen and amplify the connections to overseas Filipinos. He emphasized the commitment of the government to be more principled, accountable, dependable, under the “Bagong Pilipinas” brand of governance and public service. The CFO aims to double down efforts to harness the rich potential of the overseas Filipinos and make them partners and contributors to national development. Secretary Arugay also discussed the array of programs and services offered by the Commission.

The programs and services of the Embassy were presented by Consul General Aian Caringal. Migrant Workers Office-Canberra Officer-in-Charge Oscar Anthony David provided a briefing on the portfolio and services of the Department of Migrant Workers. Following the forum, the CFO and the Philippine Embassy engaged the Filipino community in a productive discussion on enhancing services and orientations for overseas Filipinos.

The Philippine Embassy in Canberra is accepting nominations for the 2024 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO). It is spearheaded by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and conferred by the President at a ceremony in Malacañang.

The PAFIOO is a biennial search to honor and recognize overseas Filipinos and other individuals or organizations who contribute to Philippine development initiatives or promote the cause and interest of the Filipino diaspora/overseas Filipino communities. Deadline for nominations is 14 April 2024.

More information on the PAFIOO can be found here. - END