Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II has called for an evidence-based review of local succession and property laws to protect the inheritance rights of Filipinos living abroad.
The call for a systematic policy intervention came during a recent meeting with Sylvester Lee Salcedo, a Filipino-American lawyer and retired U.S. Navy officer who took up the growing legal complexities faced by the diaspora when asserting claims over properties in the Philippines.
The initiative is a direct extension of the CFO’s mission to maintain the political, cultural, and economic ties between overseas Filipinos and their motherland. By addressing the “inheritance hurdle,” the CFO seeks to ensure that the diaspora’s economic stake in the Philippines remains secure, even across generations.
“Our responsibility is to conduct a thorough, research-driven study on these property concerns,” Ang said. “We need an evidence-based approach to identify where our current laws fall short and what policy interventions are required to safeguard the interests of our kababayans.”
Salcedo, drawing from his legal experience in the United States, emphasized that many overseas Filipinos struggle to navigate the Philippine legal system from a distance. These challenges often lead to the loss of family assets, which serves as a major deterrent for those looking to maintain economic and emotional roots in the country.
Salcedo advocated for a systematic framework — potentially involving new legislation — to streamline how inheritance is handled for those stationed abroad. This move is seen as vital for the “economic pillar” of the CFO’s mission, as clear property rights encourage the diaspora to continue investing in their hometowns.
The push for property law reform is also linked to the CFO’s broader advocacy for overseas Filipino retirees.
Ang noted the CFO’s active role in the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Retirement and Reintegration. There are 10.7 million Filipinos abroad, more than half of them are CFO’s constituents — the permanent and long-term migrants.
For many in the diaspora, inheritance is the foundation of their retirement plan in the Philippines. Ensuring that these properties are easily transferable and legally protected is essential for a smooth reintegration process.
The CFO’s Policy, Planning, and Research Division is expected to spearhead the consultative approach, engaging with legal experts and diaspora leaders to draft recommendations for the executive and legislative branches.
By prioritizing a research-driven strategy, the CFO aims to transform the “inheritance hurdle” into a bridge that keeps the global Filipino community permanently connected to the Philippine soil.
The CFO, established under Batas Pambansa 79, is dedicated to the welfare and empowerment of Filipinos permanently residing abroad. It is distinct from the Department of Migrant Workers, which primarily addresses the needs of overseas Filipino Workers (OFWa) and other temporary migrants.
The CFO, which is an agency under the Office of the President, works to strengthen the social, economic, and cultural ties of global Filipinos with their home country. Its primary stakeholders include Filipino permanent migrants, dual citizens, spouses and partners of foreign nationals, individuals under the Exchange Visitor Program, au pair participants bound for Europe, and Filipino descendants overseas.