FILE PHOTO: The Bureau of Immigration in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER.net photo / ED LUSTAN
MANILA, Philippines — With the expected resumption of more in-person classes this year, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday assured the “smooth processing” of international students who will be returning to resume their studies in the Philippines.
BI has also reached out to school officials and groups who have expressed intent in admitting foreign applicants for the upcoming academic year.
“This would be the bureau’s share in helping the recovery of the education sector that was also badly hit by the [COVID-19] pandemic,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.
Over 35,000 international students, mostly in the medical field, were studying in the country prior to the global health crisis. According to the bureau, many of them were repatriated after the closure of international borders and the enforcement of nationwide lockdowns.
The government in March permitted colleges and universities in areas under Alert Level 1 to hold in-person classes with 100 percent of the classroom’s capacity.
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