By Hannah Torregoza
Reelectionist Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Friday reiterated the need for the government to prioritize the hiring of Filipinos in the country over Chinese and other foreign workers.
Senator JV Ejercito (Tony Pionilla / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Ejercito said job vacancies in the country should be occupied by Filipinos, and not other foreign nationals, particularly Chinese.
The senator made the appeal following reports of massive influx of foreign workers, mostly Chinese, who were allegedly employed in government infrastructure projects without proper documentation.
“Priority dapat ang mga Filipino worker sa job opportunities. Lalo na ang ‘Build, Build, Build’ program (Filipino workers should be given priority in job opportunities. Especially on the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program),” Ejercito said in a statement, referring to the massive infrastructure project of the Duterte administration.
“Maraming trabaho na mage-generate dito at dapat Pilipino ang priority, (This project will generate a lot of jobs, so Filipinos should be given priority),” Ejercito said.
Recent reports revealed that throngs of Chinese nationals were continuously working in projects funded by China under the “Build, Build, Build” program of the administration.
Ejercito, who is running for another six-year Senate term in the upcoming May 2019 elections cited the indubitable inherent skills and positive work ethics of Filipinos.
The senator said such characteristics made them stand out in various fields of work and even made the Filipino race one of the most sought-after workers in countries abroad.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier took a tolerant stance on the influx of Chinese workers in the Philippines, urging authorities to let them work in the Philippines.
Duterte expressed concern the Chinese government might retaliate against the Philippines by deporting Filipinos working in China.
But senators rejected this saying this would only apply to Filipinos working illegally in China.