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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gov't eyes removal of 5,000 cap on deployment of health workers abroad once COVID vaccine is available

Gov't eyes removal of 5,000 cap on deployment of health workers abroad once COVID vaccine is available

Published Nov 25, 2020 11:48 am

The government may remove the 5,000 cap on the deployment of health workers abroad if the coronavirus vaccine is available in the market, a Palace official said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (JOEY DALUMPINES/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque explained that the government placed a limit on the number of health workers allowed to work overseas mainly due to the pandemic.

The government wanted to make sure the country will still have enough medical workers to attend to the needs of Filipinos, he added.

"'Yung 5,000, iyan po ay initial. Kung iyan po ay maubos in the second quarter at mayroon na namang bakuna, baka tanggalin na iyan altogether (The 5,000 (cap) is just initial. If it runs out in the second quarter and we already have a vaccine, it may be removed altogether)," he said during a Palace press briefing Tuesday.

"Sinisiguro lang natin na hindi naman tayo mauubusan ng mga nurses, nursing assistants, at nursing aides na mayroong clinical experience dahil kung mawala iyong may clinical experience, sinong mag-aalaga sa atin kung tayo ay magkakasakit? (We are trying to ensure that we won't run out of nurses, nursing assistants, and nursing aides with clinical experience because if we run out of those with clinical experience, who would take care of us if we get sick?)," he said.

President Duterte recently allowed the overseas deployment of nurses and other health workers abroad starting January, 2021, but with a limit of 5,000 each year. The recommendation was made by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

The Palace explained that the President agreed to lift the deployment ban of health workers due to the decreasing coronavirus cases and the prospect of a coronavirus vaccine, among others. The President also recognized it was time to let the health care workers pursue a job that will help improve their lives.

The deployment ban was imposed back in April to ensure the protection of the health workers as well as augment the country's frontliners in the battle against the pandemic. The government later relaxed the restrictions, allowing health workers with complete documents as of March 8, and then adjusted the date to August 28, to leave the country.

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