Institutionalized consultation, knowledge-sharing hub pushed for Europe-based Pinoys

The European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD) is pushing for the institutionalization of a consultation hub and centralized knowledge sharing for Filipinos based in Europe.

Maria Zelda Rojas, ENFiD adviser and former board member, said these policy recommendations are being discussed with the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO).

"The policy recommendation is that we have to centralize. Centralized knowledge information across Europe and with the Philippines is important," Rojas told GMA News Online at the sidelines of 2026 Filipino Diaspora Summit in Pasay City on Tuesday.

The partnership of ENFiD and CFO aims to connect experts and strengthen the knowledge of non-resident Filipinos in Europe in digital and financial literacy, among others.

Rojas, who is also founder and chairperson of ENFiD-Austria, said the organization is assesing if regional or virtual workshops are possible.

"Nakita namin even across different countries, napakaraming information and expertise, but it's all scattered, even in the statistics," she said.

Based on the 2024 Department of Foreign Affairs data, there are 806,916 Filipinos in Europe.

Since there is an existing agreement between ENFiD and CFO in 2015, Rojas said they are examing if there are revisions needed to be done to improve their partnership.

She hoped that the partneship would be finalized this year.

This year's Diaspora Summit is themed “Transformation Through Diaspora Engagement: Harnessing Filipino Global Power in Advancing the Philippines' Cultural, Economic, and Political Goals."

According to CFO Chairperson Dante "Klink" Ang II, the summit serves as a platform for partnerships and political and economic activities.

Talking to reporters, Ang said the CFO also aims to know the challenges being faced by non-resident Filipinos for its policy making.

"We think we know (their challenges). We need to validate that to see where the gaps are to increase our awareness and understanding so that those imputs can be incorporated in our strategic plan," Ang said.

More than 350 delegates from 30 countries and territories attended the event.

The participants are from the following countries: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netheralands, Timor Leste, UAE, UK, USA, Philippines, Turkiye, and Vietnam.

Citing goverment data, Ang said there are 10.8 million overseas Filipino around the globe, of which 60% are non-resident Filipinos. — BAP, GMA News