CFO Meets with DEPED via Zoom on the Conduct of Inspection in Timor-Leste
30 October 2025 – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the Department of Education had a meeting to discuss the possibility of conducting a physical ocular inspection of the Philippine-run schools in Timor-Leste, as requested by the Philippine Embassy in Dili, Timor-
Earlier this year, Sec. Dante “Klink” Ang instructed the CFO-PSO to write to the Philippine Embassies and Consulates to validate the existence of the Philippine schools overseas, and identify schools that are currently operating in their jurisdiction, even without a Philippine government permit to operate. As a result, the Philippine Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste, in particular, responded to the CFO and has identified 6 Philippine-run schools currently operating in Dili. Out of these 6 schools, only one has been recognized as a Philippine school overseas: the Maharlika International School, which has been operating since 2008. In addition, the CFO was informed by the Office of Migration Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (OMA-DFA) that they were advised by PE Dili that the 6 schools had met with them and revealed that the Ministry of Education in Dili requires them to secure a certification from the Philippine Department of Education, otherwise, their operations will be ceased until the end of December this year.
The CFO gave a brief background of the meeting agenda. During the discussion, it was mentioned that the majority of the enrollees in these schools are foreign students. In this regard, Asec. Andaya has instructed the Private Education Office to draft a letter immediately to seek the opinion of the Legal Office-DepEd on whether these schools can be inspected, given that the majority of the enrollees are foreign students, as this will defeat the purpose of being a PSO. Based on the existing Manual of Policies, Standards, and Regulations for PSOs, a school may only accept foreign students not exceeding 25% of the total enrollees of each school year.
CFO informed them that the matter can be further discussed in the forthcoming 89th Regular Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) Meeting of the Philippine Schools Overseas on November 4, 2025, at the CFO.
The meeting was attended by Asec. Jocelyn DR Andaya, Ms. Divina David, and Ms. Rochelle Fernandez of DepEd, while the CFO was represented by Ms. Rowena V. Jubinal.
