THE HOUSE Committee on Higher and Technical Education approved a measure allowing dual citizens to teach in public higher education institutions.

The panel, headed by Baguio City Rep. Mark Go agreed to endorse for plenary deliberations House Bill 10251 seeking to amend Section 5(3) of Republic Act 9225, or the Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003.

In discussions around the internationalization of higher education, EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee mentioned that restrictive immigration policies were a deterrent to professionals and experts wishing to teach in the country.

He also cited that this was in contrast with the practices of other countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong, which leveraged their global diaspora, recruiting them home to improve the quality of their universities.

“One potential source of increasing human resources is the naturalized Filipinos in other countries who have re-acquired their citizenship by RA 9225,” Go said.

“Should this requirement of law be amended, many dual citizens will be enticed to work for the government. Their knowledge and expertise when used and applied in the Philippines will certainly help solve the critical challenges in advancing excellent education, research, and innovation,” he added.