Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III believes it is unlikely that the suspension of the deployment of health workers will be totally lifted.
(ROBINSON NIÑAL JR. / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Under the present situation, I'm not confident that the clamor for the total lifting of the deployment suspension will be favorably acted upon," he said in an online forum Wednesday.
"I for one will not recommend (it) because we have to think of our country and our countrymen who will be affected by COVID-19," added Bello.
"God forbid, but if the level of transmission and contamination of COVID increased, what will happen then if our good nurses are already abroad?" he said.
It is for this reason, Bello said, that he would not consider recommending to the Inter Agency Task Force and to President Duterte the lifting of the deployment suspension.
It was last April when the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) imposed a deployment ban for selected types of health workers citing the dwindling human resources in local hospitals and medical facilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the list are medical doctor/physician, nurse, microbiologist, molecular biologist, medical technologist, clinical analyst, respiratory therapist, pharmacist, laboratory technician, X-ray/radiologic technician, nursing assistant/nursing aide, operator of medical equipment, supervisor of health services and personal care, and repairman of medical-hospital equipment.
The IATF later ordered the exemption of healthcare workers with perfected and signed contract as of March 8 from the deployment ban imposed by the POEA.
Last week, Bello said he endorsed the recommendation of the POEA to allow the deployment of health care workers with completed contracts as of August 31 to the IATF following the appeal of nurses and medical workers.
"The POEA recommended the exemption will cover up to Aug. 31 which I favorably supported and submitted to the IATF. Now, IATF approved our recommendation and it has been submitted to the President for his final approval," he said.