President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is open having a partnership with the United States of America (USA) to strengthen the nursing industry of both countries following the heavy toll from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Marcos said this during his meeting with US Senator Tammy Duckworth in Malacañang on Tuesday, Aug. 8.

In his remarks, the President said he does not see any problem regarding the proposal but added that the Philippine government would have to study it first, especially since the country is facing a shortage of nurses at home.

"We do have a problem with our nurses leaving and going abroad and finding good jobs abroad. And we certainly encourage that; we're not about to hold them back," Marcos told Duckworth.

"But we need to find these new schemes so that the brain drain is not quite severe as it is now... But certainly, we should examine that," he added," he said.

Marcos also admitted that the country has a shortage at "every level in our healthcare system" due to the talent leaving the Philippines for better positions abroad. 

While there are no concrete plans yet, Marcos and Duckworth believe the proposal would strengthen the ties between the Philippines and the US.

"Let's look into it. I don't see why [not]," President Marcos said.

"I'm sure if we figure out the details, that probably…sounds like a good idea," he added.

During their meeting, Senator Duckworth said that the US government was looking into sending American nursing students to study in the Philippines as Filipino nurses are able to pass the nursing licensure examinations in the US.

This is also because the US has more nursing students than nursing educators.  

"It would be really interesting to see if we could send American students to nursing schools in the Philippines because, obviously, you're teaching to a standard that they can meet licensure in the US. But we don't have enough nursing programs in the United States," Duckworth said.

"We don't have enough nursing educators in the United States because we just don't have enough of them, and we have students who want to enter nursing schools, but there is not enough space for them," she added.

Aside from strengthening the nursing industry of both the Philippines and the US, Duckworth told President Marcos that the US and the Philippines could also collaborate to produce electronic vehicle batteries to meet the huge demand of the American market.

Last year, President Marcos admitted that the benefits given to Filipino nurses are not enough but said the government could not do much because of the lack of funds.

Early this year, he said the Philippines has become the victim of its own success. He ordered the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to develop concrete steps to keep Filipino nurses in the country, reiterating an earlier sentiment that every world leader he has spoken with is asking for them.