Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives

Quezon City, Metro Manila ae

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS \\ 4 ‘i.

First Regular Session

625

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Kimi S. Cojuangco

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish the Foreign Students Office to promote
local education and tourism to foreign students and appropriate funds
therefor.

Equally important, the Foreign Students Office is meant to
accelerate, simplify and do away with all the red tape foreign students
must go through to be issued a student visa.

Most, if not all foreign students complain about the procedure of
applying for a student’s visa. One of their major issues is the lack of
information when starting their application. After submitting the initial
requirements, they are asked to submit even more documents, forcing
them to travel to different offices. Once these additional documents are
submitted, they are told more documents are needed, again forcing them
to go out and collect the additional requirements. They are forced to
continue doing this until the documents are complete, which should not
be the case. Once a student applies for a Visa, he or she should be
informed of all the requirements needed for the Visa. Having this
information from the start saves them time and energy in collecting the
needed documents. Another issue is the lack of basic courtesy of the
concerned personnel. A lot of times the personnel is unhelpful and
unaccommodating, which is a total disregard of the Code of Conduct and
Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Being new to the
country, foreign students should be met with proper guidance to ease the
transition.

Such an ordeal makes the student's first weeks in the Philippines
unbearable, often leaving a negative image before even getting the chance


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to experience what the country has to offer. These students chose to
study in the Philippines yet they are met with difficulties from the
moment they arrive. Simplifying the process of applying for student visas
will encourage more students to study here. Why should we deny them
that? If things are not fixed, foreigners might think twice about studying
here, and that will be a loss for our country.

The Philippines has been constantly striving to position itself as the
premier destination for learning in the Asia-Pacific Region since the year
2000. The country’s strategic location, affordability and quality of
education, and proficiency in the English language define our advantage
over other Asian countries. Also, a number of prestigious Philippine
universities have made their mark as centers of academic excellence in
Asia, particularly the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila
University, De La Salle University and the University of Santo Tomas.
This further proves that the country provides state-of-the-art educational
aids and technologies deemed significant in the pursuit of scholastic
excellence.

Consequently, foreign students from Southeast Asia, South Korea,
China, India, Turkey and the Middle East prefer the Philippines for their
technical, tertiary and continuing education. Today, a great number of
bright young minds from all over the world contribute to the medley of
cultures in the Philippines.

Education tourism, a trend where people travel to foreign locations
and enroll in short-term or degree courses while they get to know the
culture and history of its people, is now one of the fastest growing areas
of the economy. Education tourism has reached significant magnitudes
of late, with almost 20,000 foreign students enrolled in degree courses as
of March 2011, according to the Bureau of Immigration. This does not
include the tens of thousands enrolled in small institutions offering short
courses for personal enrichment or entrepreneurial use.

Accordingly, the government must provide measures to ensure that
foreign students receive high-quality education in a safe, positive
environment and to encourage them to immerse themselves into the rich
Filipino way of life. The salient feature of the bill is the creation of the
Foreign Students Office which shall guarantee the development of
education tourism in the country through strong collaboration and
increased linkages between the various industry sectors. Through the
Office, the country shall produce a workable education program that also
promotes the magnificence of the Philippines as a tourist destination.


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The country could attain the status as a center for excellence in
Asia by instituting measures to further promote education tourism in the
country. Providing programs along this line will not only provide foreign
students the opportunity to acquire quality education but also to
experience a multiplicity of landscapes and rich cultural environment in
the Philippines, one of the most vibrant nations in the world. A further
increase in the number of foreign enrollees will certainly boost our
country’s economy and further enhance its good reputation as a premier
tourist destination.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

vu
HON. KIMI S. COJUANGCO


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 625

Introduced by Honorable Kimi S. Cojuangco

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE FOREIGN STUDENTS OFFICE TO PROMOTE
LOCAL EDUCATION AND TOURISM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled.

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — \t is hereby declared the policy of
the State to establish the Philippines as center for education in the Asia-Pacific
Region by encouraging foreign students to avail of affordable and quality
education while, at the same time, promoting the country as a primary tourist
destination. Toward this end, the State shall institute measures to ensure that
foreign students receive high quality education in a safe environment and help
boost the nation’s prospects to improve its economic situation.

SEC. 2. Foreign Students Office. — The Foreign Students Office,
hereinafter referred to as the Office, is hereby established to develop plans and
programs for the promotion of local education and tourism services to foreign
students. The Office shall be under the supervision of the Office of the President
of the Philippines.


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SEC. 3. Duties and Functions. — The Foreign Students Office shall
exercise the following duties and functions:

a. Formulate the Education Tourism Plan which shall be the basis of the
policies and programs to assure maximum and efficient utilization of all resources
toward achieving the objectives of this Act;

b. Promote through public information, education and cultural-education
exchange, in coordination with other relevant government agencies, non-
governmental organizations and the private sector, the Philippines as a preferred
choice for technical, tertiary and continuing education;

ce Coordinate with accredited higher educational institutions, similar
institutions and centers on their curricula to offer foreign students a wide selection
of options for completing their technical, tertiary or continuing education in the
country, particularly to include touristy activities in such programs;

d. Coordinate with the Department of Tourism the activities and
programs to encourage foreign students to come to the country for them to fully
appreciate and understand the Filipinos’ rich cultural heritage:

e. Encourage the participation of non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), people’s organizations (POs) and the private sector in initiating programs
for the development of education tourism;

f.  Promulgate simplified procedures and implementing guidelines, in
coordination with the Bureau of Immigration, to ensure that efficient service is
extended to foreign students who seek temporary stay in the Philippines for the
purpose of taking a course in the technical, tertiary or continuing education levels;

g. Formulate strategic interventions and provide expeditious response to
address the immediate concerns of foreign students;

h. Provide an aggressive marketing campaign for education tourism;


i. Ensure collaboration and network development between the education
and tourism industries to identify and immediately address gaps in the
implementation of programs and this Act;

i Provide avenues for exchange of information, exchange programs and
sharing of ideas on issues relating to education tourism;

k. Provide training workshops that could educate and unite local tourism
and educational providers at the community and regional levels;

1 Monitor and coordinate the implementation of the provisions of this
Act with the department and agencies concerned;

m. Perform such other functions as may be necessary to implement the
purposes of this Act.

SEC. 4. Executive Director and Secretariat. - The Office shall be
headed by an Executive Director who shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines. The Office shall have a technical secretariat which shall provide the

necessary technical management and staff services.

SEC. 5. Inter-Government Cooperation. - Any government office or
agency shall, upon the request of the Foreign Students Office, provide technical
assistance, furnish such data, reports and other information, not otherwise
prohibited by law, necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act.

SEC. 6. Education Tourism Plan. — In formulating the Education
Tourism Plan (ETP), the Foreign Students Office shall take into account the
national tourism action plan prepared by the Department of Tourism pursuant to
Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise known as the “Philippine Tourism Act.”

The Office shall, in coordination with other concerned agencies,
continuously update the existing Education Tourism Plan in view of evolving

trends, needs and capabilities of the education tourism industry in the country.


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Within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act and every two (2)
years thereafter, the Office shall submit the ETP to both the Senate and the House
of Representatives which shall contain the following information:

a. The current status of education tourism and its determinants;

b. Assessment of past developments, problems and challenges:

c¢. Goals, strategies and policies for the coming year; and

d. Recommendations to further promote the development of the education
tourism industry in the country.

SEC. 7. Entry and Stay of Foreign Students. — All foreign students
seeking to enter and stay in the Philippines solely for the purpose of taking up a
technical, tertiary or continuing learning course, including foreigners who are
already in the Philippines with a valid visa who wish to study in the country, must
first secure a temporary visitor’s or student visa, whichever is applicable, in
accordance with Commonwealth Act No. 613 or the Philippine Immigration Act
and Executive Order No. 423, entitled “Guidelines Governing The Entry And Stay
Of Foreign Students In The Philippines And The Establishment Of An Inter-Agency
Committee On Foreign Students For the Purpose,” as amended. All applications
for student visa shall be approved within thirty (30) days after the submission of all
the necessary requirements by the higher education institution to the Department of
Foreign Affairs

SEC. 8. Accreditation Procedures. — All higher education institutions
(HEIs) or similar institutions and centers must first secure an accreditation from
the Office before being authorized to accept foreign students. For this purpose, the
Office shall coordinate with the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the
Philippines, CHED and TESDA. The Office shall prepare every year an updated
list of such accredited schools, copies of which shall be furnished the Bureau of

Immigration, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), National Bureau of


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Investigation (NBI), the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and
the schools authorized to admit foreign students.

SEC. 9. Assistance to Foreign Students. — All HEI’s or similar institutions
and centers accredited to accept foreign students shall establish a Foreign Student
Unit within their organization to assist such foreign students with any concerns
regarding their education and learning needs.

The Bureau of Immigration shall likewise establish a Foreign Student Desk
to assist such foreign students where their respective visas are concerned.

SEC. 10. Reports.— All accredited HEIs or similar institutions and centers

shall submit a report to the Office every year, copies of which shall be furnished
the CHED and the BI, to contain the following:

a. Enrollment data on foreign students, including the names of those
who have been accepted but failed to enroll;

b. Data on missing students, transferees, drop-outs or those with
derogatory record; and

ic Information on the promotion to higher course levels, to include those
who failed the course.

Failure to submit the above required report shall be a ground for cancellation
by the Office of the accreditation and authority to admit foreign students.

SEC. 11. International Accreditation. — The Office shall, in coordination
with the Commission on Higher Education, assist HEIs or similar institutions and
centers to acquire accreditation from foreign countries to further enhance their
competitiveness. Toward this end, the Office shall conduct consultations with
foreign education accreditation agencies to facilitate the accreditation of the
country’s HEIs or similar institutions and centers.

SEC. 12. Penalty. — Any higher educational institution or similar institution

or center which has been found, after due investigation by the Office, to have


violated any provision of this Act or its implementing rules and regulations shall
suffer the penalty of cancellation of the authority to admit foreign students.

SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher
Education shall, in coordination with the Department of Tourism and the Bureau of
Immigration, formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the
Office of the President of the Philippines. Thereafter, such sum as may be
necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. — All laws, rules and regulations and other
issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are deemed modified,
revoked or repealed accordingly.

SEC. 16. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,