Koreans in RP favor putting up language schools

MANILA, Philippines - Putting up English language schools is the favorite business of Korean nationals, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported yesterday.

Statistics showed that of the 128 Koreans who went to the BI’s Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG) one-stop center, majority preferred opening English language schools.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan attributed this to the Koreans’ trust in the English language proficiency of Filipinos. Many of the schools were put up in Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu and Davao.

As of March this year, BI-SVEG one-stop shop chief Cris Villalobos said a total of 485 foreigners and their dependents have been issued visas while more than 30,000 Filipinos gained employment as a result of the program.

The foreigners’ preferred putting up businesses in the service, manufacturing, outsourcing or call center industry and the information technology sectors.

SVEG allows a foreign national to stay indefinitely in the Philippines if he or she provides full-time jobs to at least 10 Filipino workers in legitimate and sustainable businesses in the country.

Commissioner Libanan also expressed his gratitude to the Department of Tourism and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for helping the BI in marketing and promoting the SVEG program.

The BI and the DOLE are continuously holding dialogues to promote the employment visa among foreign investors and expatriates.        – With Rudy Santos