The Senate has concurred in the Philippines’ accession to the Asia-Pacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education, or the Tokyo Convention on September 7.
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Shirley Agrupis attended the Senate plenary session to support the country’s accession, with the Philippines now poised to become the first ASEAN State Party to the Convention.
Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the resolution builds on the Instrument of Accession signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on October 10, 2025.
Senator Zubiri earlier noted that joining the Tokyo Convention “will give us a lot of weight in terms of the credibility of our teachers, students, and workers.”
The Tokyo Convention promotes fair, transparent, and more efficient recognition of higher education qualifications among participating countries in the Asia-Pacific.
For Filipino students and professionals, it can help facilitate further studies and academic mobility, as well as the recognition of partial studies, micro-credentials, and other forms of lifelong learning.
CHED welcomes the Senate’s concurrence as an important milestone in improving the recognition of Philippine higher education qualifications and expanding educational mobility opportunities for Filipino learners and professionals across the Asia-Pacific.
Following the Senate’s concurrence, the Philippines will now take the next step in its accession to the Convention by formally depositing its Instrument of Accession with UNESCO. (PR)
