New york: The Philippines is set to showcase its pioneering approach to migrant protection at the Second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in May. This event, conducted in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), will highlight the country's innovative strategies in safeguarding migrant rights.

According to Philippines News Agency, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasized the nation's progress since the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in 2018. This includes the enactment of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Act in 2022, which established the department and reaffirmed the Philippines' dedication to ensuring safe, orderly, and regular migration.

Cacdac highlighted that the DMW has aligned its policies and programs with the 23 GCM objectives, ensuring responsive labor migration governance that spans from pre-deployment orientation to welfare services abroad and dignified return and reintegration. The GCM, as the first intergovernmental United Nations-negotiated agreement on international migration, is a non-binding framework aimed at improving migration management, protecting migrants' rights, and facilitating safe migration.

The Philippines has committed to a full-cycle migration approach, covering deployment to reintegration, with a focus on initiatives that safeguard the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by ongoing regional crises in the Middle East. United Nations Resident Coordinator Arnaud Peral praised the Philippines for its leadership in advancing migrant rights, noting that the country's efforts make the Global Compact for Migration a reality through its legal framework and robust public-private partnerships, which inspire global admiration.