Globalization is in full swing now like never before. Economies are reliant on the performance of the other, and people-to-people exchanges become increasingly common. Thus, the people bring along with them their skills and culture to the places they go to. Yet, it all boils down to how these skills are applied for the benefit of the host country.
In the Philippine setting, especially in Metro Manila, there has been a visible surge in the number of immigrants from mainland China in the past 12 months, and maybe even beyond. This can be attributed to the country being a favorable, if not the most attractive, location to set up Offshore Gaming Operations. Gambling is illegal in mainland China. Go to the Bay area in Pasay, Entertainment City in Paranaque, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, the Makati Central Business District, and it’s almost as if another Chinatown has sprouted from nowhere, making the social environment unrecognizable in contrast to the months prior.
While this brings good implications for the local economy, there have been numerous reported cases of non-payment of the corresponding taxes, engaging in fraud (wherein Chinese police want the ones behind to be deported back to China for appropriate legal proceedings), and the immigrants themselves blackmailing, even kidnapping, their fellow Chinese who apparently owe an undisclosed amount of money and attempted to get away.
At the end of the day, all of them combined, the country stands to lose so much while they lose so little. According to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), it was found that many of these Chinese operators do not remit taxes to the government, much less possess a tax identification number (TIN).
Moreover, the issue of Chinese workers stealing jobs which Filipinos are capable of performing have created a heated debate in the Senate. An example is the China-funded Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge rehabilitation which connects Rockwell, Makati and Barangka Dr, Mandaluyong. Its closure drew scorn from motorists as they argue that the original Austrian-funded bridge was only opened in 2011 and that a rehabilitation wasn’t necessary. Add fuel to the fire that it was China-funded and Chinese workers would be working on it.
Aside from creating more jobs for Filipinos, the government needs to accelerate legislation to cap off the number of foreigners working in the country, and strictly implement the appropriate screening of applicants so that none ends up as an undocumented alien, who may or may not commit any form of crime, and create a bad image of the country with regards to business security and personal safety.
A country which puts its own citizens above everyone else is one that is at least going towards the road of slow, but sure development. But before a country can even become first world, it should set its priorities straight, and a high unemployment rate is not one that’s conducive to it.
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