MANILA, Philippines -- While 18 countries are sending minister level delegates to the Second Global Forum on Migration and Development, the United States is sending a "note taker" to the international conference participated in by 163 countries, said forum chairman Esteban Conejos Tuesday.

At one of the roundtable sessions Monday, the International Labor Organization (ILO) said the US hosts the biggest number of undocumented migrants. It said that of the 40 million estimated undocumented migrants, 10 million, or 25 percent, are in the US.

But Conejos downplayed the diplomatic rebuff, saying the US also sent a similarly low-level delegate to the First GFMD in Brussels last year.

The GFMD, which was initiated by the United Nations, is a gathering of government officials for a dialogue on the phenomenon that has people moving across borders. Unlike other international conferences, the forum does not intend to come out with any formal agreement.

Conejos urged critics of the forum to forego their demonstrations and rallies and instead engage the various participants, which include all six Gulf Cooperation Council members Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

"Take advantage of the presence of delegates from 163 countries, so that we could reach a global consensus on how best to protect and empower migrant workers," he said.

"Because no matter how good your system of protection is, without the cooperation of host countries, you cannot effectively protect your migrant workers," he added.

The Middle East is the most common destination for temporary migrant workers from the Philippines, the United States for those intending to permanently move there.

"It's an honor for the Philippines to host this forum," Conejos said.