Beijing takes care of Pinoys in HK, Macau

China has promised to look after the welfare of140,000 Filipino workers in Hong Kong and 40,000 in Macau.

Speaker Jose de Venecia said this commitment, made by visiting Chinese official Li Peng, chairman of the Nationalist People’s Congress (NPC), is a whiff of good news that should further strengthen Chinese-Philippine relations.

Thousands of Filipino workers are being deported from Malaysia and are in danger of suffering the same fate in Israel and Italy. China’s assurance means that Filipinos in Hong Kong and Macau are in no danger of being the next deportees, to add to the problem of unemployment in the Philippines.

De Venecia said that Li Peng vowed to protect the welfare of Filipino workers in the Chinese territories as a sign of friendship to the Philippines and to President Arroyo.

Li Peng came to the Philippines on the invitation of De Venecia to foster stronger ties between the NPC and the House of Representatives, and between Manila and Beijing.

De Venecia also cited the readiness of China to help revive the railway system that will connect Subic and Clark free ports to the North Quadrangle and up to Pangasinan and La Union.

"This will make the North Quadrangle beneficiaries of the growth of Subic and Clark," he said.

De Venecia pointed out that the railway system to the North had been abandoned for 35 years until he initiated moves to get it moving again. The project is estimated to cost some $500 million.

Aside from the Luzon railway system, De Venecia is also laying the groundwork for the establishment of similar railway systems in Panay and Mindanao.

"Chairman Li Peng also said that China would help relocate squatters from Manila and Caloocan City," he added.

De Venecia coordinated for the release of 122 Chinese fishermen caught poaching off the Palawan waters. Chinese authorities have agreed to pay the $50,000 fine for the 122, who all pleaded guilty to charges. – Efren Danao