Biz group sees more Korean compatriots studying in PH with liberalized education

THE Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines (KCCP) on Tuesday expressed support for the proposed constitutional amendment that would open Philippine education, particularly higher learning institutions, to more foreign investments.

KCCP president Hyun Chong Un told the fifth hearing of the Committee of the Whole House of Representatives on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7 that his group welcomes the planned liberalization of Philippine education.

He said more Koreans and foreign students would come to the country if there are foreign schools operating here.

“It will make Philippine education more competitive. It will benefit the Philippines,” he said.

He informed the panel that at present, some 50,000 Koreans are enrolled in local schools. 

He added that his compatriots are particularly interested in learning English.

The KCCP head also told the Committee of the Whole House that his group shares the stand of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce supporting the proposed economic constitutional amendments.

Another panel resource person, Ateneo law professor Anthony Abad, appealed to lawmakers “to review the Constitution for amendments that would make our country globally competitive.

“My wish is within our lifetime, we will finally see our Constitution being modernized,” he said.

Abad, who is involved with foreign trade organizations, said the country’s basic law can be a powerful tool for attracting foreign investments.

“Opening the economy will lead to capital accumulation, which in turn will mean poverty reduction,” he said. 

He said this has happened in countries like Singapore and Malaysia, “where billions and billions of dollar are flowing because they welcome foreign investments.” 

He supported the proposal to empower Congress to change foreign capital and ownership restrictions, instead of these being prescribed in the Constitution.

Abad pointed out that the country’s economy has to adapt to a fast-changing world, particularly in the fields of technology and innovation like artificial intelligence (AI).

“AI is now being applied on many business processes. It accelerates the conduct of trade business and trade,” he added.

He predicted that many countries would soon have to adjust their legal framework to encompass AI application.

A third speaker, Robin Michael Garcia, who described himself as an educator and a social scientist conducting lectures here and abroad, spoke specifically on the need for the Philippines to modernize its education system.

He said the lackluster performance of local schools is evidenced by the fact that Philippine universities are in the bottom of 500 globally-ranked universities.

“Their counterparts in some ASEAN countries are in the top 10, top 50,” he said.

Garcia said a lot of brilliant Filipinos go abroad to obtain high-quality education.

He stressed that building a prosperous state and an effective and an efficient government depends largely on the quality of education that country offers.

Developed countries like the United States and Germany have a strong education system, he added. 

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