𝑪𝑭𝑶 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑲𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑨𝒏𝒈 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝑫𝑬𝑷𝑫𝒆𝒗 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒏, 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒂 𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒖𝒔𝒉

Secretary Klink Ang II paid a courtesy call to  Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan on Tuesday at the DEPDev office in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, signaling closer collaboration between the two agencies on diaspora-driven innovation and engagement.

The meeting builds on last summer’s leveling-off session hosted by DEPDev’s Innovation Staff Office for the planned Filipino Diaspora for Innovation and Development Program (FDIDP) – a national initiative aimed at mobilizing overseas Filipino talent in science, technology, and innovation sectors.  The online event featured CFO, where its representative, Rod Garcia, discussed how the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) can support the FDIDP and how a huge chunk of its awardees belong to the science, technology, and engineering fields.

During the discussion, Secretary Ang expressed CFO’s support for the program, citing its alignment with the Philippine Innovation Act of 2019. He emphasized that overseas Filipinos are not just remittance senders but also knowledge carriers, innovation drivers, and bridge-builders for development.

Sec. Ang also briefly discussed the PAFIOO, a flagship recognition program that honors the extraordinary contributions of overseas Filipinos and partners abroad to Philippine development and diplomacy. He described the awards as a testament to how diaspora excellence can be channeled for nation-building.

Both officials agreed on the need to strengthen diaspora linkages and open more avenues for overseas engagement in economic and innovation strategies. Sec. Balisacan welcomed CFO’s initiatives and expressed optimism about the evolving role of diaspora communities in the country’s long-term development plans.

Also in attendance were CFO Undersecretary Ma. Arlene Borja and Rod Garcia and from DepDev, Asec. Rey Cancio as well as other officials.