100,000 Filipino English teachers 菲总统来博鳌：欲帮10万菲英语教师落实在华工作

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At least 100,000 Filipino English teachers are needed in China, President Duterte said before his departure for China where the two countries are expected to sign a related agreement on the sidelines of a global economic forum.

“Yes, let me just say the market of China is growing and our Philippine efforts are included there. But having said that, we are also in a position now – we are going to have a platform for this actually, especially the labor department, tumatanggap na sila ngayon ng trabahante (they are now receiving workers). They are accepting first teachers but 100,000,” the President said in pre-departure remarks at the Davao International Airport. 

Duterte flew to Hainan to attend the Boao Forum for Asia, an international economic forum that serves as a dialogue platform for leaders in the Asia - Pacific.

He said the Chinese have eased or removed some trade restrictions – specifically on fruit exports – because of the warming of ties with the Philippines. He did not elaborate.

He said in jest that the Chinese want to learn the English language before taking over the United States. “Eh hindi bumabayad ng utang eh. So forfeited ‘yung lupa mo (It’s not paying its debts so its land gets forfeited). So that’s the problem,” he said.

In Hainan, Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana said the two countries are expected to sign an agreement on the sending of more Filipino English teachers to Beijing.

This is one of the bilateral agreements to be signed during the visit of President Duterte here.

The President is on his third visit to China for the Boao Forum for Asia, an international economic forum that serves as a dialogue platform for leaders in the Asia - Pacific.

“There are some minor details still being ironed out, but if everything works, the agreement (is) to hire more Filipino English teachers for China,” Sta. Romana said.

Filipino English teachers to be hired by Chinese company

Sta. Romana explained that there are Filipino teachers here but they found the jobs on their own.

“There used to be a Chinese rule that excluded the Philippines as a legal source or as a source that they encouraged. They wanted to emphasize what they called native speakers but they have relaxed it now,” the envoy said.

“We noticed that they were allowing certain countries that were not, strictly speaking, native speakers but rather were former colonies of native speaking countries and so... when they allowed that, it was very clear the Philippines was part of that, it could not be excluded,” he added.

Sta. Romana said the improved ties between the Philippines and China also played a role in the readiness of Beijing to hire more Filipino teachers.

“Whereas before, in the period of contentious relations, they did not discuss this or no, that’s not possible. They became more open. So now they are more open, they are more accommodating and there’s growing need in China to learn English,” he said.

The Philippines and China are embroiled in the dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), where $5 trillion worth of goods passes through every year. Duterte, who has been accused of being too cozy with China in exchange for assistance, has promised to discuss the issue with Chinese leaders within his term.

Aside from the agreement on Filipino teachers, the Philippines and China are also expected to sign economic cooperation deals including the final loan agreement on the Chico Dam project and lay the groundwork for more bilateral exchanges.

Sta. Romana also said the Philippines would make sure Filipino workers hired in China would be covered by social security.

“But of course, there are a lot of problems to be solved. We want to make sure they are covered by social security, that they’re not subject to unfair rules. So we want assurances,” he said.

“There are a lot of details still to be resolved because if the Chinese market opens up to us, they have to open up to other foreign markets. They have to balance their policy,” he added.

“I think the situation is already open. It’s a question now of just making sure that we know where the opportunities are and that they are able to see the availability in the Philippines,” the envoy added.

菲总统来博鳌：欲帮10万菲英语教师落实在华工作

菲律宾总统杜特尔特9日启程来华参加博鳌亚洲论坛2018年年会。他登机前在达沃机场对媒体说：“我很喜欢习主席。他能够理解我的问题，并愿意帮忙。我想对中国说声谢谢。”杜特尔特同时透露，中国正在向菲律宾开放英文教师的市场大门。

这是杜特尔特上任后第三次到访中国。在行前举行的记者会上，杜特尔特说，中国在（菲律宾的）“大建特建”中扮演着重要角色，“此时的我比任何人都需要中国”。他称此行将争取中国对菲律宾基础设施和互联互通领域的进一步投资，相信未来菲中关系将更加兴旺，如同“盛开的繁花”。

对于热议已有一年之久的菲劳市场问题，杜特尔特9日透露的消息让希望重新燃起。菲中两国政府将在杜特尔特参加博鳌论坛期间磋商派遣10万名菲律宾教师的双边协议。他此前曾对媒体表示，中国需要10万名英语教师，月薪可能高达1500美元。目前比较大的争议是，中国政府要求，由中方来认证以后向这些教师颁发证书的学校，而菲方则坚持认为，应该由菲律宾选择这些学校。他称希望在博鳌亚洲论坛期间与中国相关机构的官员会晤，以合力解决这个问题。

菲律宾驻华大使罗马纳也表示，与之前相比，一些中国机构倾向于聘用“非母语”英语使用者，或来自殖民地国家的人士。而菲中之间日益增长的友谊起到了推动作用。

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