MANILA: The Commission on Overseas Filipinos (CFO) said it would gather stakeholders, including Filipino emigrants, local government units and the private sector to foster sustainable development under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. though the "BaLinkBayan" project. In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Tuesday, CFO chairperson Leo Arugay said the program aims to assist overseas Filipinos (OFs) in making investments, donations and skills transfer initiatives. 'It aims to link overseas Filipinos with the Philippines and encourage them to become development partners in building communities in the country,' Arugay said. Through the program, the CFO assists overseas Filipinos who want to start a business venture in the Philippines and helps them explore various investment opportunities available, especially in their hometowns. It also encourages them to give back and help less fortunate Filipinos by facilitating the flow of assistance from abroad to specific beneficiaries in the Ph ilippines. The program provides overseas Filipinos access to government online services, Arugay added. Arugay said the CFO will hold the 2024 BaLinkBayan Stakeholders Conference in Muntinlupa City on Aug. 28 and 29 to gather their partners and update them on the program. The event will enable participants to learn from experts and empower them to integrating migration into local development plans. 'BaLinkBayan provides an array of options for overseas Filipinos to partner with national and local governments in starting a business, opportunities for donation and volunteer service and accessing online government services,' Arugay said. Source: Philippines News agency