CONGRESSIONAL Policy and Budget Research Department Deputy Secretary General Dr. Romulo Emmanuel Miral Jr. on Friday asserted that foreign educational institutions in the country would not be harmful to Filipino values.

“Hindi ko tinitingnan na it will be detrimental to our values. Sa palagay ko naman sa pag-aaral ko (sa abroad), hindi ako nagbago. Nandun ‘yung same values (ko). Palagay ko ‘yung formation na iyon na habang bata tayo nabubuo na iyon,” Miral said.

“Pagdating natin sa edad na iyon, maliwanag na ang pag-iisip natin. Kaya nga may age of reason na. So palagay ko alam na natin ang tama. Saka isa pa, yung tama at mali, that’s something universal e. At kung talagang alam natin ang tama at mali, hindi ko alam bakit it is something to be concerned of. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan,” he added.

He also said the presence of foreign educational institutions in the country will provide opportunities for more Filipino students to gain new knowledge.

“Mas kaunti kasi ang makakalabas ng Pilipinas. Halimbawa, yun mismong mga educational institututions na ito ay pupunta dito sa ating bansa, mas maraming makakapag-aral sa atin at makapag-take advantage ng mga bagong kaalaman. Kasi, like Singapore, they welcome this. Sa Malaysia ganun din. So talagang mahuhuli tayo pag hindi natin ito sinundan yung ganung trend,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre maintained that the liberalization of education and media in the Charter reforms being pushed in the House and the Senate will greatly benefit the country and give Filipino youth opportunities to gain new knowledge in foreign educational institutions here, as well as generate jobs with the entry of foreign media.

Acidre said studying abroad gives the necessary exposure to students to practice and learn new things.

“Kung pag-aaral lang ‘yan, puwede nang pag-aralan dito sa Pilipinas. It is really the exposure to practice and learn that we are trying to get. Now, not everybody will have that opportunity. Kaya nga gusto natin dalhin sa Pilipinas para yung mga hindi naman maka afford, walang panahon o pagkakataon makapag-aral abroad, ay magkaroon sila ng pagkakataon na makuha ang parehong exposure, parehong pag-aaral para hindi na sila mangibang bansa,” he said.