Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to accept more English language teachers, and possibly more nurses, from the Philippines, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday.
In a media briefing, Zubiri said Xi made the offer when the latter met with the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday at the Shangri-La hotel at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
The Chinese president left the Philippines Wednesday after a two-day state visit.
“We discussed continued trade between China and the Philippines,” said Zubiri, adding the other issues tackled were campaigns against terrorism and illegal drugs as well as tourism development.
“And President Xi offered to accept more English teachers from the Philippines and even possibly more nurses,” Zubiri added.
Xi, the senator said, also expressed his “full support” to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Zubiri said also present in the meeting were Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other House leaders.
Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said China was planning to open opportunities for Filipinos’ legitimate employment as English teachers.
“They expanded their definition of English-speaking countries. Because before, the concentration was native-speaking. And included therein is any country where English is taught. They said native-speaking countries and countries that were colonized by these English-speaking countries,” Sta Romana said.
Under the expanded definition, he said the Philippines was included because it was colonized by the United States and English is taught and spoken widely in the country.
The ambassador attributed China’s interest in hiring Filipino teachers to the renewed China-Philippines ties under the Duterte administration.
“They are laying the groundwork. As long as you have qualification, meaning college degrees particularly in teaching English, not only in elementary and high school but also in university. You have to have competitive degree,” said Sta. Romana.
