Opening the country for foreign-owned educational institutions will be a way for the Filipino students to have international standard education, House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin stressed on Monday.

During the hearing of the Committee of the Whole on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, Garin said international standard education should not only be limited to those who can study abroad to be globally competitive individuals.

“We cannot live in hypocrisy, Mr. Chairman, because if we remain as hypocrites, saying na ang Pilipinas ay para lamang sa mga Pilipino. Tayo po ay lulubog kasi karamihan sa atin dito ay palaging nag-aabroad para mag-aral, nagpapaaral ng mga anak sa abroad, gustong-gusto natin ang competitive standards sa abroad because we want to be more competitive… That is a prerogative that should be given to every Filipino child,” Garin pointed out.

Garin also pointed out that allowing foreign-owned educational institutions in the country would not be a hindrance to instill nationalism and patriotism to Filipino students.

“We’re talking about here pure Filipino, we’re talking about here patriotism but does it make you less of a Filipino kung hangarin mong magkaroon ng mas magandang edukasyon,” the lady solon said.

“Does it make you less of a Filipino if you aspire to be competitive and teach our future generation and give them that opportunity na sa ngayon nakakamit lang ng mamayaman sa Pilipinas?” she asked.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo lawmaker debunked the statement of Department of Education (DepEd) that RBH No. 7 will be a threat to national security after it failed to respond to the connection between the two.

“The representative from DepEd cannot justify their claim that this RBH 7 will serve as a national security threat,” Garin said.

The lawmaker pointed out that the current administration aims to provide such education to talented and intelligent Filipinos.

“When we open up the Philippines, it is simply because gusto ng current administration na maramdaman ng bawat Pilipino ang kakayahan na napapakinabangan lang ng iilang mayayaman,” the lawmaker said.

Garin also highlighted that opening the country for foreign schools would help boost the economy of the country.