The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) is proposing a P1-billion annual government allocation to send 100 top-performing Filipino students to leading universities overseas, with scholars required to return home and put their expertise to work in the Philippines.
The proposed Brain Gain program would provide an average of P10 million per student, although PSAC has yet to disclose the scholarship duration, specific funding requirements or selection criteria.
The initiative seeks to address the country’s need for highly skilled professionals by giving exceptional Filipino students access to world-class education while ensuring the knowledge and expertise they acquire benefit the domestic economy.
PSAC’s Digital Infrastructure Sector Group presented the proposal during the council’s 11th meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang on November 3, alongside recommendations to strengthen digital connectivity, protect critical infrastructure and develop emerging industries.
The council also called for the faster release of P500 million under the Startup Venture Fund to provide financing for promising Filipino businesses and encourage entrepreneurship.
“Our recommendations focus on practical solutions that can help the government strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure while creating more opportunities for Filipinos,” said Myla Villanueva, PSAC Digital Infrastructure lead and chairperson of MDI Group Holdings Inc.
Beyond developing talent, the council wants the Philippines to capture a larger share of the global electronics and semiconductor industry’s emerging space and satellite technology markets.
It proposed a national roadmap to help local manufacturers move into these specialized industries, including the establishment of a shared testing facility within the Luzon Economic Corridor, support for the proposed Cagayan space launch facility, and expanded research and training programs for engineers and technical workers.
The recommendations also covered digital access and infrastructure resilience.
PSAC urged the government to extend Bayanihan SIM subscriptions for more than one million intended beneficiaries, helping sustain connectivity among underserved communities.
It likewise called for stronger coordination among government agencies and industry players to protect telecommunications and power infrastructure against natural disasters and cyberattacks.
The Brain Gain proposal places particular emphasis on reversing the usual one-way flow of talent, making overseas education an investment in domestic skills rather than simply an opportunity for Filipino professionals to build careers abroad.
