Quezon City CARES (Comprehensive Assistance, Reintegration, & Empowerment Savings for Local & Overseas Domestic Workers
Quezon City
Mayor
Josefina Belmonte
Start of Project
2025
End of Project
Ongoing
Credit: John Raymond Tibay/Shutterstock
Overview
In 2025, Quezon City, Philippines, pledged to establish the city’s first member-owned, city-supported cooperative for domestic workers—both local and returning from abroad.
Despite the significant economic contributions of local and returned overseas domestic workers in Quezon City, there is no dedicated entity or support structure focused on helping them pursue economic development or transition into more secure, sustainable livelihoods.
Through savings and credit schemes, members of the cooperative will gain access to training and job-matching services, expand their social protections, and transition into secure, self- directed livelihoods—helping to break generational cycles of poverty. Ultimately, QC-CARES positions this initiative as a pioneering strategy for migrant and labour empowerment grounded in solidarity, inclusivity, and sustainable development.
This project is supported by the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees (GCF), the Mayors Migration Council’s instrument to channel international funding directly to cities to implement inclusive projects of their own design.
Expected Impact
The QC-CARES Fund is expected to directly serve 200 individual clients over a two-year implementation period. This includes 100 locally employed domestic workers and 100 overseas Filipino domestic workers (MDWs) who are either returning or maintaining ties with their home communities. These individuals will receive direct financial support and capacity-building services aimed at fostering economic resilience and long-term self-sufficiency.
Beyond individual service delivery, the project places a strong emphasis on collective empowerment through the establishment of a dedicated domestic workers’ cooperative. All 200 beneficiaries will be organized as founding members of this member-owned and managed cooperative. As members, they will contribute monthly savings, participate in values formation sessions, and undergo financial literacy and cooperative governance training to build a strong foundation for solidarity and shared responsibility.
The cooperative will function not only as a savings and credit platform but also as a mechanism for accessing livelihood opportunities, engaging in joint income-generating activities, and incubating long-term enterprise development. It aims to create an ecosystem of mutual support where domestic workers can collectively address their economic vulnerabilities, assert their rights, and gain greater visibility and voice in both the local and global labor discourse.
In addition, the cooperative will be linked to relevant government agencies, financial institutions, and civil society organizations to strengthen its access to technical assistance, capital, and markets. The project also envisions the cooperative becoming a model for replication in other cities and regions, advancing the professionalization, recognition, and protection of domestic workers across the country.
Ultimately, QC-CARES positions this initiative as a pioneering strategy for migrant and labor empowerment grounded in solidarity, inclusivity, and sustainable development.
Priority Objectives
Minimizing drivers of forced displacement, including climate change and environmental drivers
Protecting those most vulnerable
Realizing socio-economic inclusion
“This project will impact generations—uplifting families, strengthening our workforce, and promoting dignity and equity within and beyond our borders.”