Philippine Vice President Jejomar C. Binay marked IOM's 60th
anniversary with a call to all governments and international
organizations to remain vigilant in ensuring that the rights and
dignity of all migrants are protected.

"Migration has equitably benefited the world's nations. Its
value is not one-sided and given the economic and demographic
crises that afflict the world, it is quite possibly a pivotal
solution to global woes," he said, speaking at an event in Manila
hosted by IOM Philippines.

"Migration is not, and never has been a threat to national
prosperity," he said. " Governments and international organizations
must work hand-in-hand, remain vigilant and intervene promptly to
insure that the rights and dignity of all migrants are protected
whenever necessary and whatever the cost. "

The IOM event at its new offices in Manila on 23 November was
attended by government officials, diplomats and civil society
partners including Labor Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz, Foreign
Affairs Undersecretary Esteban B. Conejos Jr., US Ambassador Harry
K. Thomas Jr. and UNDP Country Director Renaud Meyer.

"Our experience in assisting more than 14 million migrants
worldwide has taught us many things, particularly the importance of
partnerships: with governments, with international agencies and
civil society organizations, and with the migrants themselves,"
said IOM Philippines Chief of Mission Ovais Sarmad. "Moreover, in
the course of our work, we have learned that migration is not only
a fact of life and desirable, but has now become a necessity in the
context of addressing a number of humanitarian and development
issues at national, regional and global levels."

The Philippines is one of the world's largest migrant sending
countries, with millions of Filipinos living and working abroad.
About 10 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP)
comes from remittances of Overseas Filipino Workers.

"The Philippines is one of the world's leading migrant-sending
countries and often recognized as a model in the management of
migration," Meyer said in a message on behalf of UN Resident
Coordinator Dr. Jacqueline Badcock. "Against this backdrop, IOM
presence in the Philippines is very relevant, and has proven itself
to be a very engaged partner with the Government, civil society,
and development parties including the United Nations Country
Team."

IOM has over three decades of partnership with the Philippines
government and migrants, working in the fields of labour migration,
migration management, migration and development,
counter-trafficking and emergency response.

From its beginnings on 5 December 1951, IOM has become the
leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration
and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and
non-governmental partners. IOM first assisted the Philippines
government in repatriating nationals in need of assistance in the
Middle East during the Gulf War in 1991. More recently, IOM helped
repatriate thousands of overseas Filipinos to safety during this
year's crises in North Africa.

The Philippines is home to both the IOM Philippines country
mission and the organization's global Manila Administrative
Centre.

For more information contact:

Nescel Galdones-Robles

Tel: +63 2 230-1724

E-mail: "mailto:ngaldones@iom.int">ngaldones@iom.int 

or

Friena Guerrero

Tel: +63 2 230-1608

E-mail: "mailto:fguerrero@iom.int">fguerrero@iom.int