KUALA LUMPUR - Over 310,000 Filipino migrants in Japan have urged the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) to establish a permanent and accessible presence in the country.

According to The Manila Times, they proposed that a dedicated CFO structure be set up at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo to effectively tackle the complex challenges they face.

The call followed an outreach mission conducted earlier this month by a CFO team comprising Graciel Paguinto, Rovie Pamintuan, Mike Aton and Charles Sulla, who visited Chiba and Gunma prefectures.

According to the CFO, the mission involved a Focus Group Discussion and home visits aimed at understanding the realities of Filipinos living outside Japan’s major metropolitan areas.

During the visit, the CFO engaged with at least two Filipino migrant groups, who strongly recommended the establishment of a permanent CFO presence in Japan.

While temporary visits are helpful, the CFO noted that the size of the Filipino community in Japan, one of the largest foreign populations in the country, warrants a long-term and comprehensive presence.

The CFO is tasked with promoting the interests of Filipino migrants who are not classified as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including OFW dependents, spouses of foreign nationals, and second-generation migrants.

Established under Batas Pambansa 79, the commission focuses on the welfare and empowerment of Filipinos permanently residing abroad and operates separately from the Department of Migrant Workers, which primarily serves OFWs and temporary migrants.