President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has established the Education Philippines (EduPhil) Program to position the country as a primary destination for foreign students seeking higher education, academic research, and specialized training.
The initiative was formally created through Executive Order No. 124, signed on September 8 by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on behalf of the President. The directive highlights the critical role of international education in driving economic growth, stimulating innovation, fostering cultural diplomacy, and enhancing global cooperation.
Under the executive order, the government aims to boost the Philippines’ status as a hub for academic exchange by streamlining services associated with foreign study. The EduPhil Program will promote Philippine universities globally by broadening international academic partnerships, research ties, and joint innovation ventures, while simplifying entry, residency, and enrollment procedures for foreign learners.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has been designated as the lead agency to oversee the program’s execution and evaluate its progress within one year.
To drive the policy, the executive order mandates the creation of the EduPhil Task Force—an inter-agency body responsible for coordinating foreign student mobility across local higher education institutions—with CHED providing technical and administrative support as its secretariat.
Additionally, the government will launch an online EduPhil Portal to centralize and simplify administrative processes for international students. Initial funding for the initiative will be drawn from the existing budgets of CHED and participating government agencies.
The initiative aligns with Republic Act No. 11448, or the Transnational Higher Education Act, which mandates the state to accelerate the internationalization of domestic higher education and expand transnational learning opportunities.