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20240522-cagayan-map

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The recent influx of Chinese students in Cagayan may be attributed to the promotion of the country as a global education hub, and to the opening of schools after the COVID-19 pandemic emergency phase, according to the Bureau of Immigration and the Commission on Higher Education.Officials of the agency issued the statement during a House panel inquiry on Wednesday, as lawmakers raised concern over the matter amid heightened tension between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea.“Sa dami ng influx ng students doon, is it not a red flag for CHED, at maalarma kayo?” House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party List Representative Marcelino Libanan asked, adding that a site for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States is located in Cagayan.“Yung influx po ng Chinese students came ng academic year 2023-2024 because during the pandemic, it was really online, so wala po ang mga foreign students at that time. This year po namin iko-conduct ‘yung inspection,” CHED Executive Director Cinderella Benitez-Jaro told the panel.“Based on our analysis of the situation, number one, the Philippine government has been promoting the country as a regional and global education hub, and CHED, the Commission on Higher Education&#x27;s study in the Philippines campaign has greatly helped boost the number of foreign students in the country,” Bureau of Immigration Chief Norman Tansingco also said.“Year 2023 was the time when the country opened up after the pandemic so the students returned to us who were unable to enroll during the pandemic due to the travel restrictions,” he added.CHED data show that the National Capital Region has the highest number of Chinese students for the school year 2023 to 2024, followed by Region 2, where Cagayan is located. Asked why there was a sudden interest among Chinese nationals to study in Cagayan, CHED said it is possibly due to the “affordability” of education there.Cagayan 3rd District Representative Joseph Lara sought confirmation from a university in his province regarding information that a Chinese student paid P1.2 million in school fees. A representative of St. Paul University Philippines in Tuguegarao City denied this.“The university charges $1,000 per trimester for each foreign student,” SPUP’s Director for Internationalization Jeremy Morales told the panel.The Department of Foreign Affairs plans to review and tighten the country’s policies on student visas amid national security concerns.The Bureau of Immigration, meanwhile, gave assurance that its student visa section scrutinizes the completeness and authenticity of all the documents submitted by applicants, adding that temporary visas are only converted to student visas if there is a notice of acceptance from an accredited Philippine higher education institution.

The recent influx of Chinese students in Cagayan may be attributed to the promotion of the country as a global education hub, according to the Bureau of Immigration and the Commission on Higher Education.

The recent influx of Chinese students in Cagayan may be attributed to the promotion of the country as a global education hub, according to the Bureau of Immigration and the Commission on Higher Education.

Influx of Chinese students in Cagayan linked to promo of PH as educ hub: CHED, Immigration

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Influx of Chinese students in Cagayan linked to promo of PH as educ hub: CHED, Immigration

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 22, 2024 06:55 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

Chinese students

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