Manila – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB), and the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) have released the names of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) national experts in connection with the project titled, “Public Campaign for Safe and Fair Migration in the ASEAN Region.”

The project is part of the implementation of Agreement No. 40281447 between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under the auspices of the ASEAN Committee on Migrant Workers (ACMW) and funded through the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (EU- READI),

Through Administrative Order No. 07-A, s. 2020, the Institute has taken the lead, through Executive Director Ahmma Charisma Lobrin-Satumba, in the overall coordination, provision of technical assistance, and representation in regular meetings organized by the DOLE Technical Working Group (TWG) on Public Campaign on Safe Migration. The TWG also include Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Director Levinson Alcantara. The ILS coordinator for the project is Advocacy and Publications Division Senior Labor and Employment Officer Bernard Mangulabnan.

The following are the national experts: Nur Judy Abdullah (Brunei Darussalam); Khoun Bunny (Cambodia); Rina Shahriyani Shahrullah (Indonesia); Tingthong Phetsavong (Lao PDR); Yii Tan Chang (Malaysia); Soe Kay (Myanmar); Don Chen (Singapore); Kuanruthai Siripatthanakosol (Thailand); Vu Anh Son (Vietnam); and Mitchell Duran (Philippines).

The said national experts are tasked to work under the overall guidance of the Regional Senior Expert Ms. Thetis Mangahas of the Philippines. They are responsible for contributing to data collection, information gathering, and translating to complete the national contributions to the proposed overall content, key messages and structure of the two (2) audio-visual presentations (AVPs) on safe and fair migration. The said AVPs will highlight the vulnerabilities of women migrant workers across ASEAN. Upon the confirmation of design and methodological approach as to direction and outline for the said outpurs, the Senior Expert will remain in close liaison with DOLE and ASEAN Secretariat to ensure appropriate guidance throughout the duration of the project.

You may read about the migration experiences by Filipinos in the ILS research by Ronell J. Delerio titled: “Vulnerable but unfazed? Analyzing OFW Experiences, Coping Strategies and Migration Prospects Amid Economic Crisis.” To download a copy, please go to this link:

https://ils.dole.gov.ph/vulnerable-but-unfazed-analyzing-ofw-experiences-coping-strategies-and-migration-prospects-amid-economic-crisis/