The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) conducted an Awareness Program on the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) for the Dean, internship coordinators, and faculty members of the University of Santo Tomas โ College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (UST-CTHM) on 3 December 2025 via Zoom. UST-CTHM regularly sends students to the United States to participate in the Summer Work and Travel (SWT) Program under the EVP, making the session an important avenue to clarify guidelines and ensure proper compliance with government requirements. This awareness program is also in coordination with Zip Travel, UST-CTHMโs local partner in facilitating the participation of their students in the EVP.
The UST-CTHM highlighted the Collegeโs aim for globalization for Filipino students participating in the program. By working and training in international settings, students gain exposure to global industry standards, enhance their intercultural communication skills, strengthen their adaptability, and develop their competitiveness in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Such opportunities enable students to acquire new perspectives, technical skills, and best practices that contribute to their personal growth and future careers.
The primary objective of the awareness program was to inform participants that all Filipino EVP participants, including students under the SWT program, are required to register with the CFO and attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) before their departure. The session underscored the CFOโs role in ensuring the protection and preparedness of Filipino exchange visitors.
The CFOโs presentation clarified the mandate of the CFO relative to other migrant-serving agencies of the Philippine government, emphasizing the CFOโs specific focus on pre-departure services, orientation, and documentation. This helped address common misconceptions and provided participants with a clearer understanding of how different agencies contribute to the overall management and protection of Filipinos going abroad.
The orientation also discussed the requirements and conditions of the EVP, particularly the obligation of participants to return to the Philippines after the completion of their program. This condition is essential to maintaining the integrity of the EVP as an educational and cultural exchange initiative, and offices were reminded that their studentsโ participation is temporary and tied to their academic and professional development in the Philippines.
The program concluded with an open forum where participants asked further about Philippine regulations and compliance with EVP rules. CFO representatives addressed these concerns, and both parties agreed to a Memorandum of Agreement for a future partnership, including joint pre-departure orientation and ensuring a smooth pre-departure process.
