EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 124, September 08, 2026

ESTABLISHING THE EDUCATION PHILIPPINES (EDUPHIL) PROGRAM

Executive Orders September 8, 2026
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WHEREAS, Section 2(1), Article XIV of the Constitution provides that the State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society, while Section 4(1) thereof recognizes the complementary roles of public and private institutions in the educational system and authorizes the State of exercise reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational institutions;

WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) No. 11448 or the Transnational Higher Education Act declares it a policy of the State to actively encourage, promote, and accelerate the establishment of transnational higher education programs, the internationalization of higher education in the country, and the development of the transnational higher education sector;

WHEREAS, Executive Order (EO) No. 285 (s. 2000), which amended EO No. 188 (s. 1994), provided the guidelines governing the entry and stay of foreign students in the Philippines and updated the membership of the Inter-Agency Committee on Foreign Students (IACFS);

WHEREAS, RA No. 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994 created the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to formulate and recommend development plans, policies, priorities, and programs on higher education and research, among others;

WHEREAS, the increasing importance of international education as a driver of economic growth, innovation, cultural diplomacy, human capital development, and international cooperation, together with the rapid evolution of digital governance and regional integration, necessitates a modern, coordinated, and digitally enabled whole-of-government framework to streamline the delivery of government services relating to international education and strengthen the competitiveness of the Philippines as a destination for higher education, research, and academic exchange; and

WHEREAS, Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution vests in the President the power of control over all the Executive departments, bureaus and offices, and the mandate to ensure the faithful execution of laws;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR., President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:

Section 1. EduPhil Program. The EduPhil Program is hereby established as the Government’s national program for promoting the Philippine as a preferred destination for international student seeking higher education, research, and training in Philippine higher educational institutions. The Program shall:

 

 
a.
Promote Philippine higher education internationally by advancing academic cooperation, research collaboration, innovation partnerships,m knowledge exchange, and the global engagement of Philippine higher education institutions to attract international students and promote the Philippines as a preferred destination for higher education;
 
b.
Facilitate the entry, stay, and education of international students in the Philippine through a modern, coordinated, streamlined, and digitally enabled whole-of-government framework that improves the delivery of government services, including the efficient processing of student visas and related authorizations, consistent with existing laws and statutory mandates of the concerned agencies; and
 
c.
Support Philippine higher education institutions in attracting and serving international students, including through appropriate promotional, informational, and facilitative initiatives consistent with the objectives of the EduPhil Program.


The CHED shall serve as the lead implementing agency of the EduPhil Program. 
Section 2. EduPhil Task Force. The IACFS established under EO No. 295 (s. 2000) is hereby renamed and reconstituted as the EduPhil Task Force, which shall serve as the principal inter-agency coordinating body for the promotion, facilitation, and development of the education of international students in Philippine higher education institutions. The EduPhil Task Force shall be composed of the heads of the following agencies:

Chair
:
 CHED
Vice-Chair
:
 Department of Foreign Affairs
Members
:
 Bureau of Immigration
  Department of Information and Communications Technology
  Department of Tourism
  National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
  Professional Regulation Commission


The CHED shall also serve as the Secretariat of the Task Force and provide the necessary technical and administrative support for the performance of its functions.
The Task  Force may invite representatives from the national government agencies, academic and research institutions, and other relevant stakeholders to participate in its meetings as observers, resources speakers, or technical advisers.
The members of the Task Force may designate their respective alternates, with ranks not lower than Assistant Secretary or its equivalent, who shall be fully authorized to decide for or on their behalf.
Section 3. Responsibilities of the EduPhil Task Force. This EduPhil Task Force shall exercise the following responsibilities:

  a.
Formulate policies and provide strategic direction for the implementation of the EduPhil Program;
  b.
Develop and oversee the implementation of a five (5)-year international education promotion strategy, which shall serve as the Government’s principal framework for advancing the education of international students in Philippine higher education institutions, including the development and promotion of the EduPhil brand as the Government’s official identity for international education promotion efforts;
  c.
Develop and oversee the implementation of the EduPhil Portal, which shall serve as a single-window, interoperable digital platform to facilitate documentation, endorsement tracking, referral, reporting information-sharing, and the delivery of government services relating to the education of international students in Philippine higher education institutions;
  d.
Recommend legislative, administrative, and other measures to streamline visa processing and related government services for international students, improve inter-agency coordination, and address overlaps, gaps, and inconsistencies in support of the EduPhil Program;
  e.
Recommend policies and initiatives to facilitate the reciprocal recognition of academic degrees, qualifications, and credentials between the Philippines and foreign jurisdictions, with due regard to applicable international agreements and the respective legal and regulatory frameworks of the concerned jurisdictions;
  f.
Constitute sub-committees and working groups, as may be necessary, to support the effective implementation of this Order, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations;
  g.
Submit an annual report to the President, through the CHED Chairperson, on the implementation of the EduPhil Program; and
  h.
Perform such other functions as may be directed by the President.


Section 4. EduPhil Portal. The EduPhil Portal shall be established to facilitate and streamline the delivery of government services relating to the education of international students in Philippine higher education institutions. The Portal shall be a secure, interoperable digital platform operating as the Government’s single window for serving as the unified point for international student documentation, institutional endorsement tracking, and inter-agency referral, and as the Government’s official digital gateway for international student-related information and services.
The Portal shall serve as the common platform through which the member agencies of the EduPhil Task Force, and such other government agencies as may be involved in the implementation of the EduPhil Program, coordinate the exercise of their respective statutory mandates and the processing of permits, clearances, endorsements, certifications, visas, and other authorizations required under applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Nothing in this Order shall be construed to modify, diminish, or supersede the statutory powers and functions of any such agency.
For this purpose, the EduPhil Task Force shall facilitate the execution of appropriate data-sharing agreements and the secure integration of the relevant digital services, databases, and information systems of the agencies referred to in the preceding paragraph, subject to applicable laws, rules, regulations, cybersecurity requirements, and existing agreements. All data processing within the Portal shall comply with applicable laws, rules, and regulations governing data privacy, cybersecurity, interoperability, and digital government.
Section 5. Monitoring and Oversight. The CHED shall oversee and ensure the effective implementation of the EduPhil Program. Within one (1) year from the issuance of this Order, the CHED shall evaluate the implementation of the EduPhil Program and, if warranted, submit to the President its recommendation on the establishment of an appropriate organizational unit or office within the CHED to support the effective and sustainable implementation of the Program, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.
Section 6. Convergence. All relevant government agencies are hereby directed to render full support and assistance, as well as to actively coordinate and cooperate with the CHED and the EduPhil Task Force to achieve a whole-of-government approach in promoting and facilitating the education of international students in Philippine higher education institutions.
Section 7. Implementing Guidelines. Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Order, the EduPhil Task Force shall promulgate the guidelines necessary for the effective implementation of this Order.
Section 8. Transitory Provision. All records, pending matters, and existing systems of the IACFS established under EO No. 285 (s. 2000) shall continue to be administered by the EduPhil Task Force and shall be integrated into the EduPhil Program and Portal, as may be necessary for the implementation of this Order. All rules, regulations, guidelines, and other issuances promulgated by the IACFS shall remain in force insofar as they are not inconsistent with this Order, until amended, repealed, or superseded by the guidelines issued pursuant to this Order.
Section 9. Funding. The initial funding required for the implementation of this Order shall be charged against the current and available appropriations of the CHED and other concerned agencies, subject to pertinent budgeting, accounting, and auditing laws, rules, and regulations, Thereafter, the funding requirements necessary for the continued implementation of this Order shall be included in the budget proposals of the CHED and other concerned agencies, subject to the usual budget preparation process.
Section 10. Separability. If any section or part of this Order is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 11. Repeal. All issuances, orders, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 12. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Six.

(SGD.) FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR.

By the President:

(SGD.) RALPH G. RECTO
Acting Executive Secretary

 


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