Nominations open for Philippine Presidential Awards

ABU DHABI: The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi is now accepting nominations for the “2026 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organisations Overseas (PAFIOO).

- Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Posted over the Philippine Embassy-Abu Dhabi Facebook Page since 2:22 pm of Jan. 20, the advisory has indicated as well that all the requirements, which are all listed over https://presidentialawards.cfo.gov.ph/forms-and-guide/, must be received by the “Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi for evaluation and endorsement” on or before May 7, 2026.

That is 22 days before the May 29, 2026 deadline set by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), the agency directly under the Office of the President, operational since June 16, 1980 as the substitute to the Office of Emigrant Affairs.

The CFO is tasked “to serve the interests and welfare of Filipinos abroad” which includes the overseeing of all Filipino-owned and managed schools worldwide.

Meanwhile, the Jan. 15 Memorandum Circular No. 112 signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto in behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., states: “All government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or-controlled corporations, are hereby directed, and all local government units, non-government organisations, and the private sector are hereby encouraged, to extend full support to the CFO in the conduct of the 2026 PAFIOO.”

Acceptance of nominations began on Dec. 11, 2025.