CEBU CITY, June 27 (PIA) -- The Philippines is the third top country sending migrants abroad, according to a report from International Organization on Migration.

Filipinos make up 3.1 percent the total population of migrants worldwide, according to said report which was presented by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) during a press briefing here.

CFO Cebu Extension Office Supervising Emigrant Services Officer Aileen Macapili said that as of 2011, there are 10,455,788 overseas Filipinos.

The top 10 destination countries of the Filipino permanent migrants are United States of America, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, New Zealand, and Austria.

Filipino immigrants from Central Visayas reached 91,000 between 1998 to 2012.

Of the total, 71,000 are from Cebu.

Cebu also holds the biggest number of Filipinos married to foreigners, followed by Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Siquijor.

Macapili said most reasons why Filipinos migrated are to seek better opportunities, higher standard of living abroad, to acquire small business, for professional growth, higher wages, and exposure to different cultures.

"However, if there are benefits to migrating, there are also costs to it," she warned.

CFO identified the negative results to migration as the breakdown of family ties and values, isolation, exploitation, illegal recruitment, discrimination in the workplace, and health issues, among others.

CFO is a government agency tasked to promote and uphold the interests of Filipino emigrants and permanent residents abroad.

The press briefing in Cebu City was part of the commission's annual community education program (CEP) to raise awareness on issues concerning migration, intermarriage, and government efforts against illegal recruitment, documentation fraud, and human trafficking.

Aside from Cebu City, CFO has held information drives in Mandaue City, Lapulapu City, Talisay City, and in the cities of Dumaguete, Tanjay, and Bais in Negros Oriental province. (RMN/PIA Cebu)

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1121372310244