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Pitching a note for Filipinos to support a Philippine plan for Migration and Development, Ayala Foundation co-vice chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said the country as a whole is benefiting from migration, and every Filipino family gain its development.

Speaking at the opening of the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Developmentâ€"Civil Society Days, Zobel cited a number of positive effects of migration.

“Workers’ remittances have strengthened our banking system and spurred local consumption; our telecommunications companies serve the needs for connectivity of our overseas Filipinos and their families; our real estate sector, especially in localities outside the main urban areas, has expanded significantly due in part to sales of homes and condominium units to migrants and their families,” Zobel said, adding that these opportunities show why businessmen across the country should be interested in the Forum.

He added that the private sector -together with civil society and governments and multilateral institutionsâ€" have important roles to play in finding solutions to problems that beset the country, including the negative effects of migration.

“I believe it is in everybody’s best interest to offer specific recommendations for action to all sectors particularly to the business community,” Zobel said.

Another reason why businessmen should participate in the Forum is the fact that they employ migrants.

“From agricultural and ‘blue collar’ jobs in factories to ‘pink collar’ jobs in the services to ‘white collar’ jobs designing software or engineering buildings and large-scale infrastructure; migrant workers and expatriates form a significant part of the global workforce. Indeed, the challenge for global corporations is to find the best talent anywhere in the world. It is therefore in our best and mutual interest to make sure that this continues to happen in ways which serve global economic development and growth,” Zobel noted. - PNA