International migration is an integral part of the Government's poverty alleviation programme. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration reports that in 2006, 1,092,055 Filipinos were employed abroad, 24% of them sea-based. This is a 10% increase compared to 2005.

There are an estimated 3.6 million contract workers overseas at any point in time working in more than 160 countries, with an additional 1.3 million undocumented Filipinos working abroad. The Philippines received an estimated USD 12.8 billion in remittances in 2006.

The Phillipines is a source country for trafficked men, women and children. In 2005 UNHCR reports 100 refugees and 40 asylum seekers present. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre estimates that 91,905 people were internally displaced during 2006. Little is known about HIV infection rates and vulnerability among these groups.

Recently, the Philippines Senate proposed a bill, Improving Philippine Commitment to Human Rights Promotion and Protection by Providing the Necessary Mechanisms for the Prevention of the Occurrence and Protection from the Adverse Effects of Internal Displacement and for Other Purposes (Internal Displacement Act of 2006), with health provisions for internally displaced persons with a focus on women's reproductive health. However, the bill does not ensure HIV prevention, care, treatment and support for them.