Most Chinese student visa holders in Metro Manila, not Cagayan—BI

INQUIRER file photo / ALEXIS CORPUZ

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday said that the majority of Chinese nationals who were given student visas in the country are in Metro Manila and not in Cagayan.

Immigration Spokesperson Dana Sandoval Sandoval made this clarification in light of the alleged influx of Chinese students in some colleges and universities in Cagayan Valley.

READ: Why influx of Sino students in Cagayan Valley? Solons ask

“Actually majority po ng foreign nationals, particularly Chinese nationals, that were issued student visas ay nasa Metro Manila po. Mahigit 9,000 ang Chinese nationals that have been issued student visas in different schools in Metro Manila,” said Sandoval in an interview over Radyo 630.

(Actually, the majority of foreign nationals, particularly Chinese nationals, that were issued student visas are in Metro Manila. There are more than 9,000 Chinese nationals that have been issued student visas in different schools in Metro Manila.)

This, in contrast to the Immigration bureau’s 2023 data which showed that more than 1,500 Chinese students are in Cagayan.

“But on the ground we verified kung ilan po ‘yung nandoon — ang on the ground na lamang po ay nasa more than 400 students,” she added.

(But on the ground, we verified how many were there — those who are on the ground are only more than 400 students.)

READ: BI: 1,516 Chinese nat’ls given student visas in Cagayan in 2023

According to Sandoval, student visas are renewed yearly, explaining that they will no longer be extended once the government sees that the learner has consecutive failing grades.

For the immigration official, the agency has done everything on the “regulatory side to ensure that all foreign students in the country have completed “their documentation.”

READ: Cagayan schools: ‘Baseless’ to say Chinese students threaten PH security

But Sandoval still noted the need for intelligence agencies to verify the concerns raised by some, especially in places deemed as “areas of concern.”

“Tingin natin na tama lamang na tignan ng intelligence agencies kung meron po talagang mga ganyang concerns or possibility lalo po yan ay security area. Area of concern talaga ng ating bansa so marapat lang po na tingnan ito at busisiin itong activities,” said Sandoval.

(We think it is only right for our intelligence agencies to verify these concerns or possibilities especially since it’s a security area. That’s an area of concern in our country so it is right for us to verify these activities.)

No closing of doors

Despite her stand, Sandoval maintained that “legitimate foreign nationals” who only want to study in the Philippines should not be denied entry into the country.

“There should be a healthy balance. Kasi hindi naman po natin siguro marapat na ideny yung mga lehitimong estudyante na nais talagang mag aral dito,” she said.

(There should be a healthy balance. Because we should not deny the entry of those legitimate students who only want to study here.)

She then backed her remarks by noting that this is in line with the national government’s bid to make the Philippines an education hub in Asia.