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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lesson learned? DOLE cautious on giving UK nurse deal updates

Lesson learned? DOLE cautious on giving UK nurse deal updates

Published Mar 17, 2021 09:26 pm

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has been very cautious on releasing updates about the United Kingdom's (UK) request for exemption as far the Philippine government's deployment cap on nurses is concerned.

DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello III

It was this same issue that triggered the "nurses-for-vaccines" controversy last month, which DOLE Information and Publication Service (IPS) Director Rolly Francia has attributed to a "misquoted notion."

DOLE drew flak from this as it appeared to some that the agency was "bartering" Filipino nurses in exchange for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine supply from a foreign nation.

In a virtual press briefing Wednesday, March 17, DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello III confirmed that there have been "developments" on UK's request and that the Philippine Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), which placed the limit on the deployment of Filipino nurses abroad, had already responded.

"Mayroon naman, mayroon naman (There have been developments) and we already gave the United Kingdom the response of the IATF. Mukha namang (It appears that) they're satisfied with the decision of the IATF," Bello said, conspicuously choosing general terms.

Asked by a reporter if the labor secretary could share the contents of the IATF decision, the latter said: "I would love to, kaya lang policy ng IATF na (but it's the policy of the IATF that) all of the decisions of IATF are considered confidential, unless the IATF comes out with a public pronouncement of the decision."

The UK--apparently in need of Filipino nurses and healthcare workers after being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic--wants to be exempted from the deployment limit imposed on Filipino nurses, which is 5,000 per year. Once granted, the European nation will be able to get its preferred number of nurses, the cap notwithstanding.

Bello had told UK Ambassador Daniel Pruce that, should such request be granted, he would prefer that the Filipino nurses get vaccinated first to ensure their safety.

Pruce had reportedly responded to Bello's proposal via letter. The Cabinet official told reporters that he had already relayed the letter to President Duterte.

"In fact, in one of our meetings, (President Duterte) acknowledged with thanks (the) action ng United Kingdom," said Bello, who has also never publicly said anything about the Pruce letter, except that it was "positive" in nature.

Bello estimates that there are over 400,000 nurses in the Philippines. 

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