Calabarzon preferred destination

for Filipino migrants

January 30, 2020 | 12.30 am

A driver looks from inside a jeepney during a traffic in Manila, Jan. 8. -- REUTERS

By Mark T. Amoguis
Assistant Research Head

CALABARZON, Metro Manila, and Central Visayas are the top preferred
destinations among Filipinos wanting to migrate to other regions in the next
five years, according to the governmentʼs inaugural national migration
survey.

In a press release yesterday, preliminary results of the Philippine Statistics

Authorityʼs (PSA) National Migration Survey showed that 3,692 Filipinos
intended to move in the next five years. Of these, 20.1% wished to move to
Calabarzon, followed by the National Capital Region (NCR, 17%), and
Central Visayas (10.7%).

The rest of the respondents chose Central Luzon (9.1%), Bicol Region
(6.2%), Davao Region (5.4%), Eastern Visayas (5%), Northern Mindanao
(4.6%), Western Visayas (3.9%), Zamboanga Peninsula (3.2%), Mimaropa
Region (3%), Soccsksargen (2.9%), Ilocos Region (2%), Caraga (1.8%),
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (1.8%), Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR, 1.7%), and Cagayan Valley (1.6%).

Meanwhile, NCR and Calabarzon had the most immigrants in the past five
years at 388,464 and 293,484 respondents, respectively. However, these
two regions also posted the largest number of respondents that transferred
to other regions during the period at 509,161 and 184,116.

Eastern Visayas had the largest number of migrants on a net basis at

approximately 155,500 followed by Calabarzonʼs 109,368, and Bicolʼs
59,152. A positive net figure indicates that more Filipinos transferred to the
region compared to those that left.

On the other hand, around 120,697 Filipinos left Metro Manila during the
period. Other regions with net negative number of migrants in the last five
years include Central Luzon (-67,994) and Caraga (-3,210).

The survey also showed that four out of 10 Filipinos (40.1%) are lifetime
migrants, defined as those who are now residing in a place different from
the usual residence of their mother at the time of their birth.

Sought for comments on the results, UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc.

Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said that people tend to move to
where economic opportunities are perceived to abundantly exist.

“Calabarzon is the manufacturing hub of the Philippine economy and the

NCR is the financial hub, both of which comprise 53% of total Philippine
gross domestic product (GDP). These two particular areas are magnets for
migration,” he said in an e-mail.

Mr. Asuncion also pointed out that Cebu, which is in Central Visayas, is the
second-most important economic center in the country next to Metro
Manila.

“Central Visayas is an attractive destination for economic migrants looking

for more and better economic opportunities not normally available from their
place of origin,” Mr. Asuncion said.

Mr. Asuncion also noted that CAR, Central Luzon, Western Visayas and
Davao Region may be the “next preferred destinations for economic
migration” in the next decade as these regions have outperformed the
national GDP growth average in the last three years.

The PSAʼs National Migration Survey, in collaboration with the University of

the Philippines Population Institute, was conducted to “provide information
on the mobility of Philippine population in order to assist policy makers and
program managers in evaluating and designing strategies for improving
services and assistance to people going abroad or moving within the
country.