Filipinos wary of influx of Chinese workers? ‘Not surprising’, Palace says

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang is not surprised that majority of Filipinos expressed concerns about the rising presence of Chinese workers in the country as shown in a recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey.

According to the SWS survey, seven out of 10 adult Filipinos were worried about the rising presence of Chinese workers in the Philippines.

SWS noted that 31 percent of the respondents said they were “worried a great deal” while 39 percent were only “somewhat worried.” Meanwhile, 19 percent said they were not too worried, and 11 percent shared that they are not at all worried.

But presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo questioned the research methodology used in the survey.

“We note that the survey question has been slantly phrased (sic) as, ‘Gaano po kayo nababahala sa pagdami ng dayuhang Intsik na nagtratrabaho sa Pilipinas?’ (How concerned are you with the increasing number of Chinese foreigners working in the Philippines?)… Necessarily, the response is logical and expected because the question already assumes that there exists a cause of worry,” Panelo said.

The Palace official likewise claimed that those who oppose President Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot to China “would put political color and tweak and highlight the result of this survey question for political propaganda purposes.”

According to him, the Chinese people have “seamlessly assimilated” in the Filipino way of life for centuries, attributing it to the “hospitable and inclusive nature of our people.”

The number of Chinese nationals in the Philippines has noticeably increased with the majority of them working for the Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo). But despite the economic country’s gains, there has been a mounting fear that Chinese workers are taking jobs, evading taxes and committing crimes.

Data showed more than three million Chinese nationals have entered the country since Duterte assumed office in 2016 and fostered friendly ties with China despite a long-standing maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea between the two countries.

But Panelo assured the public that the administration will strictly enforce its immigration and labor policies.

“The President, as always, will prioritize the interests of the Filipino people and our local labor force,” he noted.