Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin (PPAB)

House Deputy Majority Leader Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin has slammed the "hypocrisy" when it comes to patriotism and the desire for quality education that can only be achieved abroad. 

"We’re talking about here pure Filipino, we’re talking about here patriotism, but does it make you less of a Filipino kung hangarin mong magkaroon ng mas magandang edukasyon (if you yearn for better quality education)?" Garin asked in plenary on Monday afternoon, March 4. 

The lady solon was interpellating representatives of the education sector during the Committee of the Whole discussions on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No.7, particularly on the lifting of restrictions in education. 

The Philippines only allows 40 percent foreign ownership in the education sector. 

"We cannot live in hypocrisy, Mr. Chairman, because if we remain as hypocrites, saying na ang Pilipinas ay para lamang sa mga Pilipino (saying that the Philippines is only for Filipinos). Tayo po ay lulubog (We will end up sinking)," Garin said in a raised voice. 

"Kasi karamihan sa atin dito ay palaging nag-aabroad para mag-aral, nagpapa-aral ng mga anak sa abroad, gustong-gusto natin ang competitive standards sa abroad because we want to be more competitive…That is a prerogative that should be given to every Filipino child," she said. 

(Because a lot of us here always go abroad to study, or send their kids to school abroad, we really want the competitive standards abroad.) 

"Does it make you less of a Filipino if you aspire to be competitive and teach our future generation and give them that opportunity na sa ngayon nakakamit lang ng mamayaman sa Pilipinas (that only the rich in the Philippines can attain for now)?" she further asked. 

Garin also highlighted that opening the country to foreign schools would help boost Philippine economy. 

RBH No.7 seeks to revise certain restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. 

Garin also debunked the claim of the Department of Education (DepEd) that RBH No. 7 was a threat to national security after it failed to establish a connection between the two, upon the lady solon's query. 

"The representative from DepEd cannot justify their claim that this RBH No.7 will serve as a national security threat," she said. 

She noted that the current administration aims to provide foreign quality education to deserving and intelligent Filipinos. 

"When we open up the Philippines, it is simply because gusto ng current administration na maramdaman ng bawat Pilipino ang kakayahan na napapakinabangan lang ng iilang mayayaman," Garin said. 

(The current administration wants every Filipino to feel the benefits that only a few rich people experience.)