MANILA, Philippines- Naalarma si Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers sa natanggap nitong ulat na ilang Chinese ang nagko-convert ng kanilang tourist visa para maging student visa upang tumagal ang pananatili sa bansa.
“We received reports that Chinese tourists, when their tourist visa is about to expire, enroll in universities to secure a student visa. They do not attend classes, though,” pahayag ni Barbers.
Ipinaliwanag ni Barbers na sinasamantala ng mga Chinese tourist ang Executive Order 285 na nagbibigay-kapangyarihan sa Bureau of Immigration (BI) na i-convert ang tourist visa sa student visa.
Ani Barbers, sa ngayon ay hindi tukoy kung ilan ang Chinese students na nag aaral sa bansa.
“Some say there are 4,000 to 5,000 students from mainland China. Others say it is at 16,000. Some say it’s just 500,” pahayag ni Barbers.
Aniya, upang maiwasan ang ganitong problema ay dapat na marebisa ang nasabing EO.
“The influx of supposed tourists who suddenly want to study here is alarming. I even got information that one family of tourists were able to get a student visa. Hindi naman magcoconvert ng student yan ng walang kapalit,” wika ni Barbers.
Nangangamba si Barbers na maaaring naabuso din ang EO.
”This arbitrary power to convert visas is the worst legalized scheme that can be used by unscrupulous personnel for monetary gain. The 16,200 student visas that the BI granted to Chinese nationals in 2023 is simply unacceptable. Nevermind if other countries grant more, we should never use that as our yardstick given our tense relationship with China,” pagtatapos ng mambabatas. Gail Mendoza
