Philippine Asian News Today Vol 20 No 07 | Page 30

30 SPORTS PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY April 1 - 15 , 2018
Kapuso programs can now be enjoyed in all branches of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration ( OWWA ) nationwide as GMA Network inked an exclusive partnership with the agency on March 21 .
Under the partnership , GMA will provide LED TVs at the waiting areas of OWWA offices across all regions .
The contract signing at the GMA Network Center was led by GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe L . Gozon , GMA President and COO Gilberto R . Duavit , Jr ., and GMA First Vice President for Corporate Strategic Planning and Concurrent Head for Program Support Regie C . Bautista with Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac , Deputy Administrators Brigido Dulay
At least 100,000 Filipino English teachers are needed in China , President Duterte said yesterday 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

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GMA Network shows to be seen in OWWA branches

and Arnaldo Ignacio , and Advocacy and Marketing Division Chief Cynthia Erum .
Duavit said that the partnership with OWWA will enable GMA to help disseminate information to the OFWs . “ Sa ganoong paraan , makakapiling natin sa pamamagitan ng ating mga programa ang ating mga kababayang paluwas habang nasa tanggapan sila ng OWWA ,” Duavit said .
On the other hand , Cacdac said that this agreement will extend their agency ’ s services for the benefit of the Overseas Filipino Workers . “ Napakahalaga na katuwang natin ang media sa pagtulong sa mga OFWs at sa kanilang mga kaanak . And of course , yung TV sets na handog ng
GMA will go a long way kasi ‘ yan ay ilalagay natin sa OWWA offices natin nationwide , not just in Metro Manila ,”

Filipino English teachers needed in China

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 told reporters yesterday .
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
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( From left ) OWWA Advocacy and Marketing Division Chief Cynthia Erum , OWWA Deputy Administrators Arnaldo Ignacio and Brigido Dulay , OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac , GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe L . Gozon , GMA President and COO Gilberto R . Duavit , Jr ., and GMA First Vice President for Corporate Strategic Planning and Concurrent Head for Program Support Regie C . Bautista .
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 said Cacdac .
term .

Boracay for farmers ? Duterte wants land audit - official

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered an audit of land claims in Boracay amid his bid to give the island to farmers , an official said Tuesday .
Duterte on Monday promised to turn Boracay into a “ land reform area ” and give it to farmers , insisting that the whole island is fully owned by the government under the law .
“ Noong Cabinet meeting natin , inihayag na rin ng ating Pangulo na kasabay ng ating pagre-rehabilitate sa Boracay island ay i-audit din iyung mga land issues niyan ,” Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones told DZMM .
( During our Cabinet meeting , the President said that in time with the rehabilitation of Boracay island , the land issues there should be audited .)
With the President ’ s directive , the Department of Agrarian Reform will join an inter-agency task force that will lead Boracay ’ s rehabilitation while it is closed off to tourists for 6 months starting April 26 .
The DAR , in particular , will examine if Boracay can still be used for agriculture , said Leones .
He noted that in 2006 , then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation 1084 , which classified Boracay into 2 areas : forestland and agricultural land .
Under the proclamation , some
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 . ( A . Romero / E . Regalado PS )
40 percent of the 1,028-hectare island was deemed as forestland while 60 percent was classified as agricultural land , he said .
The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the proclamation in 2008 , but some Boracay land claimants questioned the ruling , asserting ownership over their properties . The High Court eventually junked the claimants ’ petition , saying that no private entity can hold property in Boracay , Leones added .
The court , he said , further ruled that claimants can only avoid eviction from their property if their land titles date back to before June 12 , 1945 , under the Property Registration Code .
Those who do not satisfy this requirement may apply for a homestead or sales patent if their property is not part of agricultural land , Leones said .
Duterte ’ s announcement on Boracay ’ s land reform came a month after Macau casino giant Galaxy Entertainment and its Filipino partner , Leisure and Resorts World Corp ( LRWC ) announced the building of a $ 500-million integrated resort in Boracay .
Duterte has said no casinos nor any other businesses will be built on Boracay amid its shutdown . ( abs-cbn news )