Phinma Education Holdings Inc., the education arm of Phinma Corporation, is ramping up its regional expansion as it sets sights on entering the Vietnamese market by 2027 while accelerating growth efforts in Indonesia and the Philippines.
President and CEO Chito B. Salazar said the company is exploring acquisition opportunities in Vietnam, favoring existing institutions over greenfield development. “We’re not looking to build from scratch,” Salazar emphasized.
In Indonesia, Phinma operates Horizon University Indonesia in West Java and Kalbis University in Jakarta under joint venture PT Ind Phil Management (IPM), where it holds a 66 percent stake. Salazar will visit the country this month to scout properties for a planned third school before year-end, targeting either a new city or an expanded presence in current locations.
Domestically, Phinma Education continues to strengthen its position as the largest private education network serving underserved communities in the Philippines, with 10 schools across 15 campuses. Recent additions include Saint Jude College in Cavite, with new campuses underway in Laguna, Capiz, Bacolod, and Butuan, aiming for completion between 2026 and 2027.
Enrollment for the 2024–2025 academic year reached 163,000 students, up 11% from the previous year. This growth helped lift net income to ₱1.5 billion, an 8 percent year-on-year increase.
Phinma’s education model focuses on affordability, student support, and scale. Scholarship programs such as Indonesia’s Sahabat Horizon and the Philippines’ Hawak Kamay aim to lower tuition barriers, aligning with the company’s mission of nation-building through accessible education.
With aggressive expansion plans and strong regional performance, Phinma Education is positioning itself as a key player in Southeast Asia’s private education sector.
