Undocumented Filipino Migrants Rise Over 1M Mark

Undocumented Filipino Migrants Rise Over 1M Mark
Bernadette Carreon

Manila, Philippines

There are over one million undocumented Filipino migrants around the world.

According to the Stock Estimate of Filipinos Overseas, the Commission on Filipino Overseas reported irregular migrants constitute the smallest category of migrants at 10% or 1.07 million.

The statistics also showed that the number of undocumented migrants increased in 2011 compared to previous years.

The Stock Estimate of Filipinos Overseas is the aggregate of all Philippine-born Filipinos, residing or working overseas. It provides a snapshot of the number of Filipinos overseas at any given time taking into consideration migrant flows. It categorizes overseas Filipinos into permanent, temporary and irregular migrants.

Irregular migrants to Malaysia posted the biggest rate of increase from the 200,000 in 2010, Malaysia now has 447,590 irregular Filipino migrants.

Second is the United States from 156,000 in 2010 to 260,000 in 2011.

Singapore, on the other hand, had 49,400 irregular Filipino migrants in 2011.

The CFO describes irregular migrants as those who are not properly documented, without valid residence or work permits or who are overstaying in a foreign country.

In the same report, the CFO announced that 10.46 million Filipinos are now overseas in about 217 countries and territories.

The United States is the top destination country of Filipinos at 33% followed by Saudi Arabia (15 percent), Canada (8%), UAE (7%), Malaysia (5%), Australia (4%), Japan (2%), United Kingdom (2%), Italy (2%), and Singapore (2%).