
DOLE chief: 'Brain gain' program in the works
To respond to the brain drain from the exodus of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the government is planning a "brain-gain" program for returning OFWs, enhancing their skills and providing them with entrepreneurship opportunities.
The Alay-Dunong program systematizes and strengthens the skills and technology exchange or transfer between overseas Filipinos and the mother country, in strategic areas of development such as science and technology, engineering, arts and culture, among others.
Currently, a similar system exists within the Exchange Visitor Program, where Filipino J1 visa holders who apply for permanent residency in the United States are required to conduct a post graduate-level seminar as part of the requirements for the issuance of a no-objections statement from the Philippine Government. However, this is limited only to those who are originally under the EVP program.