The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has partnered with the Mindfulness, Love and Care (MLAC) Institute for Psychosocial Services to enhance mental health and psychosocial support for children of migrant workers, a group the agency described as needing focused attention.
CFO Chairperson Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II said the collaboration will strengthen existing youth programs and help create “meaningful interventions” for families affected by migration. The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on October 2, 2025, by Ang and MLAC founder and president Dr. Ma. Lourdes A. Carandang.
Both institutions affirmed their shared goal of promoting mental well-being among overseas Filipinos and their families. The initiative centers on the e-COF platform, a digital space that offers online consultations and psychosocial support to children of Overseas Filipinos (OFs) and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Dr. Carandang emphasized MLAC’s dedication to compassionate care, noting that the partnership will help reach children who might otherwise lack access to mental health resources.
A research-driven study will also be conducted to identify common challenges, coping mechanisms, and service gaps in the mental health landscape of migrant families. Respondents will include CFO clients such as students from Philippine Schools Overseas and participants of the agency’s youth and counseling programs.
The findings will guide the development of tailored psychosocial services delivered by MLAC’s psychologists and allied professionals.
The signing was witnessed by CFO Executive Director Usec. Ma. Arlene S. Borja, Project Management Division Chief Marita del Rosario-Apattad, MLAC Executive Director Hannah Misha M. Morillo, and e-COF Program Manager Dr. Marie Tessibeth T. Cordova.
