I heard  a rumour about that and I hope you're wrong. But I'm going to find out first hand on Feb 8th when I help my friend apply for a visa to China. Stay posted.

I have talked to some Filipinas working in Hong Kong and Guangzhou who can get renewals in Macau. So ......still not sure about getting them issued in the Philippines.

I know 4 Philippino teachers myself in a same school and they are great teachers though badly paid...comment apart. One of them is in a situation to leave China because there is no way to get him a Working Visa in China. I had a talk with the principle of his school and she said that for now, the only way is to get him a Business Visa for 2 months that will cost him RMB 3000. I asked what about him by the end of those 2 months? Of course he would be in the same desperate situation but she replied that she will take care to get him a Working Visa. It's contradictory to me nonetheless. If you can get him a Z Visa in 2 months, why not getting it just now? He's been here since July, last year. Why didn't you do the Z Visa or get it done in time to avoid him to pay 3000 Yuan and the fear that he will have to return to Philippines with nor further better future. Contradictory issue anyway. I will see what has he done and keep you posted.

On the other hand, the other solution would be to fly to Hong Kong and pay a 6000 Yuan for a 1 year Business Visa. Still,  I cannot be sure that Philippino people can get such Business Visa from Hong Kong either.