PHL, China to ink deal paving way for hiring of Pinoy English teachers

HAINAN, CHINA — With President Rodrigo Duterte's visit this week, the Philippines and China are set to ink a deal that will pave the way for the hiring of more Filipino English teachers, Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana said Monday.

Sta. Romana said the agreement is among those that will be signed to "further deepen and broaden the economic relations" of China and the Philippines.

"There are some minor details still being ironed out. But if everything works, the agreement to open, to hire more Filipino English teachers for China to open the Chinese market (will be signed)," he said.

According to Sta. Romana, there used to be a Chinese rule that excluded the Philippines as an encouraged source of English teachers because Filipinos were not native English speakers.

The Philippines, however, noticed that China was allowing the entry of teachers from countries that were former colonies of countries of native English speakers, so the Philippines--a former United States colony--negotiated to be included in the list.

Sta. Romana said the Philippines' now warmer relations with China helped open the discussion.

"In the period of contentious relations, you know, they did not discuss this or no, that’s not possible," he said. "So now they are more open, they are more accommodating and there’s growing need in China to learn English."

Domestic helpers

Sta. Romana said the Philippines will also soon bring up the possibility of China opening up itself to the entry of Filipino domestic helpers.

"The Chinese middle class is growing, they look at what’s happening in Hong Kong, and there is a growing demand for English-speaking helpers," said Sta. Romana.

But of course, there are a lot of problems to be solved. You know, we want to make sure they are covered by social security, that they’re not subject to unfair rules. So we want the assurances," he added. — RSJ, GMA News