COMMISSION on Filipinos Overseas Secretary Dante Ang II has pledged commitment to the goals of the United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP) in advancing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ang made the commitment Saturday when he spoke at the UNAP presentation of its Magna Carta of Volunteerism at the Technological University of the Philippines. The event commemorated the UN declaration designating 2026 as the Year of Volunteerism. Ang's pledge follows UNAP’s earlier invitation for him to serve as governor of the overseas workers sector, a role focused on mobilizing overseas volunteers to implement community-level programs that address real needs and promote peace, dignity, and sustainable development. He emphasized the role of overseas Filipino volunteers in connecting with their motherland beyond mere financial remittances. He highlighted the CFO’s strategic shift toward deeper diaspora engagement. The CFO chief said that the contributions of Filipinos abroad extend beyond money sent home to include knowledge transfer, innovation, and specifically, high-impact volunteerism that aids national development. He presented two key CFO programs as concrete mechanisms for this engagement: the Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (Linkapil) and Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLeaD). Linkapil, or Link for Philippine Development, serves as the central conduit for overseas Filipinos to fund specific, small-scale development projects back home. Through this program, diaspora groups and individuals directly channel resources to build school classrooms, equip rural health centers, or provide livelihood starter kits for local communities, effectively linking donors with beneficiaries in the Philippines. Ang said the YouLeaD project aims to ensure that these ties "last into the next generation." This initiative connects young Filipinos born or raised abroad with their heritage through immersive cultural tours and historical workshops in the Philippines, fostering a personal connection with their roots. Established in 1947, the UNAP is a national civic organization dedicated to promoting the ideals and objectives of the United Nations in the Philippines.