MANILA – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas is encouraging Filipino students to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP), particularly in the United States, to gain skills and cultural knowledge and explore the world.
During the Far Eastern University Internship Conference on Monday, CFO Secretary Romulo Arugay emphasized the benefits that students can gain in joining the program.
“Ito yung mga estudyante na magkakaroon ng mga programa sa ibang bansa lalo na sa Amerika upang magkaroon ng immersion at cultural exchange sa students doon at ang kanilang matutunan ay ipapamahagi dito sa Pilipinas (These are the students who will join programs abroad, especially in America, to have an immersion and cultural exchange with the students there, and share that knowledge here in the Philippines),” he said.
Arugay noted that students joining the EVP should take a mandatory pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS) with the CFO.
“Dadaan sila sa CFO para sumailalim sa pre-departure orientation seminar at similar programs para pag nakarating sila sa ibang bansa ay little adjustment na lang dahil naipamahagi na ng komisyon ang kanilang dapat gawin (They will go through the CFO to undergo a pre-departure orientation seminar and similar programs so that when they arrive in another country, there will only be a little adjustment because the commission has already informed them of what they have to do) once they settle into that country,” Arugay said.
He said the CFO is partnering with universities like FEU. which sends a number of students abroad for internships as well as for work and travel under EVP, to make the students aware that there is a government agency that responds to the welfare of Filipinos abroad, particularly those who went abroad permanently.
Arugay said since the start of the Marcos administration, the CFO has already given PDOS to over 1,500 students.
The FEU Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (ITHM), however, clarified that they are not offering any scholarship under the EVP, and that all expenses must be shouldered by the student.
Several universities in the US may offer scholarships, but it will be the student who must apply for such scholarships directly from the university.
EVP refers to the international exchange program administered by the United States to implement the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (as amended, Public Law 87-256, 22 USC 2451, et seq., 1988).
“The purpose of the Act is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the US and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges. Educational and cultural exchanges assist in furthering the US foreign policy objectives,” the CFO said.
Meanwhile, US Consular Officer Brittany May said many opportunities await students who join the EVP. They would also be issued a J1 or the Exchange Visitor Visa by the US Embassy.
J visas are non-immigrant visas for individuals approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the US.
“It’s a great opportunity to go to the US and maybe see what we do, how we educate, give them the chance to work in our culture and with our people, and hopefully bring their wonderful expertise and knowledge to influence those that they’re working within the US. I think it really is a mutual exchange where people can learn from each other,” May said.
She added that there is no specific quota on the number of students who can apply under the J1 Visa.
CFO, FEU partnership
The CFO and the FEU, meanwhile, signed a Memorandum of Agreement to formalize their commitment to improve students’ international work experiences and global competence through on-the-job training.
The partnership highlighted the importance of government, academe, and industry collaboration.
The CFO is the designated Secretariat of the EVP Committee per Administrative Order 242, one of the functions of which is the registration of EVP participants or J-1 visa holders.
Harold Bueno, dean of the FEU ITHM cited the importance of having a government collaboration especially since they often send their students abroad.
“Ang ganda ng may collaboration with the government. Mas naiintindihan namin ano yung guidelines, ano yung rules, ano yung proseso, so naitatama namin yung internal processes namin (It’s a good thing to have a collaboration with the government. We understand better what the guidelines are, what the rules are, what the process is, so we can correct our internal processes),” he said.
“So, the parents are assured because they know that we have a partnership with government agencies. Through our partnerships and collaborations with various agencies, we can screen students and avoid the possibility of some students who don’t return to the country,” he added.
Bueno said that aside from the US EVP, the FEU has international internships in Hong Kong, Canada, France, and Thailand.
They are also working on having the same agreement with educational institutions in Korea and Taiwan.
To date, he said that the FEU has sent about 900 students to the US under the EVP. (PNA)