HISTORY
In 1989, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) initiated a program that would systematically manage donations from Filipinos based overseas and direct them towards enhancing local development initiatives. The program was named, Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL), which literally translates to “service to fellow Filipinos.” The program was a pioneering government effort in engaging overseas Filipinos to partner with local institutions in promoting development. The longevity of the program speaks of the enduring sense of bayanihan of Filipinos even when they have found new homes in other countries.
LINKAPIL: A Partnership for National Development
The unprecedented movement of human resources across national boundaries in the last several decades has led to a vision of a borderless community of Filipinos whose collective strength could provide vast resources to help fuel growth and development in the Philippine economy. While many have gone to live or work in other countries, with some eventually acquiring other citizenship, overseas Filipinos continue to maintain ties with those in the Philippines, and continue to pursue an active interest and involvement in the future of the country.
Deeply inspired by the promise of this vision, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) designed the Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino also known as Link for Philippine Development or LINKAPIL Program in 1989. LINKAPIL seeks a broader and deeper partnership between overseas Filipinos and Filipinos in the home country based on a common desire to advance the collective good of the Filipino people and to contribute to the realization of national development. Literally “service to fellow Filipinos”, LINKAPIL provides a means for the transfer of various forms of resources from overseas Filipinos to support small scale, high impact projects to address the country’s social and economic development needs.
The LINKAPIL Program was designed to facilitate the transfer of various forms of assistance from Filipinos or other donors overseas to support projects in livelihood development, education, health related activities, and small-scale infrastructure.
Through the LINKAPIL Program, the CFO will act as the principal, conduit between overseas Filipinos and the local beneficiaries. The mechanism which the program offers will guarantee the provision of a coordinative support network by the CFO among government agencies involved in the processing of donations from abroad. This will also involve the establishment of close linkages with non-government agencies and identified beneficiaries at the local level for a more viable implementation and maintenance of projects.
The CFO invites overseas Filipinos to link up in making a difference in the lives of every Filipino back home.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The LINKAPIL Program provides a system for overseas Filipinos who desire to do their share in serving fellow Filipinos by supporting developmental projects in the Philippines. The program facilitates the flow of assistance from overseas to specific beneficiaries in the Philippines.
The LINKAPIL aims to:
- Encourage and enhance the participation among overseas Filipinos in the national development efforts of the country;
- Provide a mechanism for improved coordination and feedback among overseas donors, government agencies, and beneficiaries;
- Promote awareness and understanding of existing procedures and guidelines for the processing of donations from abroad;
- Monitor and provide report regularly on the status/progress of projects to the concerned donors;
- Build confidence and trust among overseas donors through credible and responsible management of donated resources
- Promote productive partnerships between the overseas Filipino donor community and their beneficiaries in the Philippines
OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK
The LINKAPIL Program relies on cooperative linkages among overseas Filipinos, the national government, local government units, non-government organizations, and the private sector to enable the transfer of resources and skills from overseas to beneficiaries in the Philippines.
