On June 16, 1980, the Philippine government established the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), an agency tasked to promote and uphold the interests of Filipino emigrants and permanent residents abroad, and preserve and strengthen ties with Filipino communities overseas.
The CFO was established through the enactment of Batas Pambansa 79, it replaced the Office of Emigrant Affairs (OEA) but retained its mandate and extended its functions to formulate policies.
The CFO primarily registers and provides pre-departure orientation seminars to emigrants. It promotes, among other functions, the transfer of technology and material and financial contributions from overseas to development activities in underserved communities all over the Philippines.
The agency also provides younger generations of Filipinos overseas with opportunities to learn Philippine history, culture, institutions and the Filipino language.
