The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) is advancing efforts to translate health research into policy tools aimed at improving mental health support for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

“Research alone doesn’t automatically become policy,” said Dr. Jaime Montoya, Executive Director of DOST-PCHRD. “That’s why, we support not just the generation of evidence, but the crucial work of transforming it into policy tools that make a real impact,” explained Dr. Montoya. 

Through its Health Research Policy Translation, Evaluation, and Engagement (POLISEE) Grants Program, the Council is funding initiatives that develop policy instruments and facilitate stakeholder engagement to turn evidence into actionable reforms.

Two POLISEE-supported projects were featured during the Talakayang Health Research and Technology (HeaRT) Beat press conference, a platform designed to showcase DOST-PCHRD’s programs and foster dialogue between project leaders and the media, for their contributions to migrant mental health. 

Dr. Maria Angelica C. Plata’s ANDITO or Advocating National Discourse to Integrate Telepsychiatry in Policies and Programs for Overseas Filipinos Project, led by the Davao Medical School Foundation Inc., developed policy recommendations for integrating telepsychiatry into government programs for OFWs. The project convened seven national agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Health (DOH), and PhilHealth,  to address barriers such as connectivity, licensing, and financial sustainability. It produced seven policy briefs outlining coordinated strategies for technology-enabled mental health care across the migration cycle.

The project’s main policy brief entitled, “Integrating Telepsychiatry in Policies and Programs for Overseas Filipinos,” was endorsed by House Majority Leader Manuel Jose M. Dalipe following its presentation in national policy fora and inter-agency technical discussions. This endorsement marks a crucial step toward the legislative and institutional adoption of telepsychiatry in migrant mental health programs.

Meanwhile, Dr. Veronica Ramirez of the University of Asia and the Pacific led a nationwide effort to assess how mental health issues among OFWs are detected and treated. Her team conducted regional policy forums and identified the need for a psychosocial evaluation tool tailored to the unique challenges faced by migrant workers. The proposed interventions span all three phases of migration: pre-departure, employment abroad, and reintegration, and emphasize the importance of continuous and culturally responsive mental health support for OFWs.

The team shared its findings through regional dialogues and expert consultations with migrant-serving agencies, local government units, and academic partners. Discussions with DOH and DMW are underway for pilot implementation of the tool among reintegration officers and OFW Family Circles. 

“These projects show how research can be transformed into tools that guide real-world policy,” said Dr. Montoya. “Through POLISEE, we’re not just funding studies,  we’re investing in the process that makes health research usable, relevant, and impactful.By supporting policy development activities such as expert consultations, agency dialogues, and capacity-building, the Council ensures that health research doesn’t end in publication but leads to meaningful change in how health systems serve Filipinos, at home and abroad.”