Manila, June 16 -- The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) is urging both the government and the public to give long-term and permanent Filipino migrants the same recognition afforded to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as it celebrated its 45th founding anniversary on Monday in Pasay City.

In his speech, CFO Chairperson Secretary Dante "Klink" Ang II called attention to the crucial yet often underappreciated role of permanent migrants, or Filipinos who have settled abroad for good, including dual citizens, foreign-born children, and spouses of foreign nationals.

He said that as OFWs are rightly hailed as modern-day heroes, there is a need to also recognize and support the millions of Filipinos who have made homes overseas, while st...