With the steady inflow of remittances to the Philippines and the growing awareness of its potential for sustenance and development, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) recognized the need to establish BaLinkBayan. A quip on the Filipino word balikbayan (a returning overseas Filipino), BaLinkBayan is a means to connect Filipino individuals and communities to the Philippines through the Diaspora to Development (D2D) program of the CFO. BaLinkbayan focuses on the five of the D2D: diaspora investment and entrepreneurship, diaspora philanthropy,brain gain program, educational exchange and medical mission coordination.

In line with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016, BaLinkBayan serves as the perfect platform to ensure better services for the overseas Filipino. BaLinkBayan’s long term pursuit for inclusive and sustainable growth is driven by the collective strength of overseas Filipinos that can serve as catalysts to fuel Philippine economic development. Through this ongoing pursuit, BaLinkBayan strives to make an impact by encouraging our overseas Filipinos to participate and help achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UN-MDGs) such as the eradication of hunger and poverty, achievement of universal primary education, the reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health, and environmental sustainability.