SENATOR Mark Villar filed a bill that will mandate the establishment of Migrant Filipino Youth Desks in all Philippine embassies.

In filing Senate Bill 1907 or the proposed Migrant Filipino Youth Desks Act of 2023, Villar said a survey in National Migration Survey in 2018 showed that about 55 percent of Filipinos aged 15 and above have moved to or resided in another city, municipality, province, region, or country for three months or more since birth.

He added that the migration process adversely affects young people “when confronted with social discrimination due to migration status, ethniicity, and religion.”

Overseas migration of parents from the Philippines resulted in increasing numbers of long-term separation of parents from each other and from their children.

The senator said the State should have a system wherein Filipino youth shall have access to basic social services that will address their issues relating to health, risks associated with sexual and reproductive health, and lack or loss of social protection once the migration process is initiated.

“It should be noted that the youth has unique needs and age-specific problems such as discrimination, difficulty obtaining Philippine documents, and difficulty participating in socio-political activities, among others,” Villar said.