In the region of Calabarzon, the regional government established a mixed-model approach to collecting migration data from across various sources and developed a guide to support local government units in applying the same.

This case study reveals the various innovative manners in which local data on migration is generated in the Philippines. Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established systematic fashion, which then enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes. Migration data is essential in order ensure that policies and programmes relating to migration management, migration and development, and migrant participation are evidenced-based, strategic, and thereby effective. Yet, it is often difficult to obtain comprehensive, accurate, accessible, real-time and disaggregated data on migration, particularly at the local level. In the Philippines, this is challenging due to a lack of national identification system for Overseas Filipinos (OFs); unharmonised databases and platforms used by various government agencies; an absence
of common terminologies (for example, a migrant vs. OFs); and varied time series in data generation.

To address this gap, innovative techniques have been conceptualised and implemented at the local level to generate migration data. Some of the ways to do so include using existing surveys and administrative data from national and local governments, as well as enhancing or creating additional surveys and questionnaires to generate further data related to migration. The objective of this collection of data at the local level is to ensure that gathered data is as accurate as possible in order to best respond to the needs of OFs and their families. Indeed, in this case study, it is demonstrated that gathering data at the local level is key to obtaining the most accurate and relevant information on migrants and their families.