As of 1 September 2007, the Philippines assumed Chairmanship of the GFMD.  As host country and Chair-in-Office, the Philippines assumes responsibility for the preparatory process and the implementation of the Second Meeting of the Forum.  The Philippines will chair all sessions related to Forum preparations and the Forum proper.

The Philippine hosting of the Second Meeting of the GFMD in Manila in October 2008 (Manila GFMD) was approved by the Office of the President on 25 March 2007, upon the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs.  An Administrative Order was subsequently signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tasking the Department of Foreign Affairs to act as lead agency in the organization of the Manila GFMD, and designating the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, Esteban  B. Conejos Jr., as Special Envoy for GFMD.

Undersecretary Conejos served as co-chair during the Brussels GFMD, alongside with Ambassador Regine de Clercq of Belgium.  As Chair of the GFMD, Undersecretary Conejos also serves as the Executive Director of the Manila GFMD Task Force and the Overall Chairman of the Philippine GFMD Preparatory Committee.

In support of the Chair are four (4) international advisers, namely: Dr. Rolph Jenny, Albert. E, Moses, Irena Omelaniuk, and Francois Fouinat. Dr. Jenny and Mr. Moses were seconded the Swiss and Dutch governments, respectively.  Ms. Omelaniuk is partly funded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), while Mr. Fouinat works under the office of the UN Special Representative for Migration and Development.  They lend political, conceptual, and operational advice to the Chair, and works directly with the other members of the Manila GFMD Task Force.