TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Local officials have belied the allegation of a solon who has sought an inquiry over the alleged presence of many Chinese nationals studying in this province, particularly in this city.

 CAGAYAN Gov. Manuel Mamba and Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que speak at the Pandesal Forum at the Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City on Saturday, April 20, 2024, on the alleged influx of Chinese students in Tuguegarao. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

Cagayan Rep. Joseph Lara has filed House Resolution No. 1666 seeking an inquiry in aid of legislation on the surge of Chinese students enrolling in various higher education institutions in Cagayan, particularly in the city of Tuguegarao, with the end in view of ensuring national security amid the prevailing situation in the West Philippine Sea.

Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Rosario S. Ting-Que denied Lara’s claims online during the Pandesal Forum at the Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City on Saturday, April 20.

Lara alleged that the city government sponsored Chinese nationals to study in this city. However, Que said this is illegal and the Commission on Audit (COA) does not allow it.

In addition, she said that they are helping many Filipino students pursue higher education instead of Chinese nationals. “We have more Filipino students whom we need to support their studies and education,” she said.

Que denied the reported 4,600 Chinese students enrolled at Saint Paul University Philippines (SPUP)-Tuguegarao City. She said only 486 foreign students – Americans, Chinese, Indonesians, Japanese, and Vietnamese – are enrolled as verified by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

She said the SPUP, a private school, has the autonomy to accept foreign students from recognized foreign Higher Education institutions (HEIs), including Chinese nationals, in line with its internationalization efforts.

These foreign students were attracted by the affordable cost of quality education, the use of English as a medium of instruction, and the globally recognized quality of instruction in such fields as medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, public health, and engineering.

Que belied that Cagayan schools are diploma mills. “There is no truth to the allegation that Chinese students pay P2 million to get their degrees in Cagayan universities.” She said  that tuition for foreign students at SPUP is around $1,000 (about P55,000) per trimester. 

She said these foreign students are not considered a threat to national security as they passed stringent process before  entering the country.

“Our law enforcers are closely monitoring our foreign students and not one of them has a record of law violation in our police stations,” she added.

Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba also belied Lara’s allegations.

Mamba  said that there was a memorandum between the CHED and the Ministry of China regarding the education exchange program allowing Chinese students to study at SPUP.

“The enrollment of foreign students in Cagayan province is a testament that we are the center of education and excellence in Region 2, which we are proud of,” he said.

The entry of all foreign students in Tuguegarao City was covered by the Joint Memorandum Order No. 1, Series of 2017, or "Consolidated Implementing Guidelines on the Entry and Stay of Foreign Students in the Philippines under Executive Order No. 285, Series of 2000." 

Under the JMC, five government agencies – CHED, the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) – are mandated to implement the EO to ensure that all foreign students pass through the process before entering the country.