Engineer Arecio Casing, Jr., OIC-Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region VI in Western Visayas highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic caused distressed, with devastating effects on livelihoods and families. He emphasized the role of local governments at the frontline.

At the training on Strengthening labour migration and reintegration in Western Visayas through Migrant Resource Centres and helpdesks held on 21-23 February 2023, NEDA expressed gratitude for the partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote decent work and to improve knowledge on labour, migration gender responsive service delivery through the stages of migrations.

The Regional Development Plan of Western Visayas included a subchapter on migration and development, therefore he recognized the need for the training.

The ILO works with the Philippines' interagency Sub-Committee on International Migration and Development (SC-IMD) to advance the migration agenda along with social partners. The SC-IMD is the Philippine interagency body responsible for policy coherence on international migration and development through coordinated strategies and programmes.