First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos is pushing for reforms to make it easier for Indian medical students to study in the Philippines, saying the country must improve its systems if it wants to attract more foreign students.

In a Facebook post on Friday, June 5, the First Lady said she met with government agencies to discuss concerns raised by Indian medical students currently studying in the country.

“Working closely with our agencies to address the concerns regarding Indian medical students studying in the Philippines,” she said.

The meeting with Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Harsh Kumar Jain and representatives from different government agencies was held at the Office of the First Lady in Manila on June 3.

According to the First Lady, discussions focused on practical solutions aimed at improving the experience of foreign students in the country.

“We discussed practical solutions to improve visa processing, reduce unnecessary burdens on students and other professionals, and strengthen coordination between schools and government agencies,” she said.

Marcos, however, did not identify the specific concerns raised by the students or the agencies that participated in the meeting.

The First Lady stressed that the Philippines remains open to foreign students who choose to pursue their education in the country.

“The Philippines remains committed to welcoming international students who place their trust in Filipino education,” she said.

She added that the government must make studying in the Philippines easier for foreign nationals if it hopes to become a regional center for education.

“If we want to be an educational hub, let’s fix the system and make it easy for foreign students to study here,” the First Lady said.

In its own Facebook post, the Indian Embassy in the Philippines said it “deeply appreciates” the First Lady for “bringing together all stakeholders to discuss and address the challenges faced by Indian medical students in the Philippines.”

“The Embassy remains committed to continuing to work closely with all concerned stakeholders to find lasting solutions,” it said.

The First Lady's latest initiative comes as the administration continues efforts to strengthen the country's attractiveness as a destination for education, tourism, and investment.