Gov’t may lift deployment ban on health workers once COVID-19 threat disappears

MANILA, Philippines — The government may only lift the deployment ban on healthcare workers abroad once there is no more COVID-19 threat in countries where they would be employed, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement when asked what will make the government lift the deployment ban.

Roque said that the deployment ban covers only those with new contracts.

“Yung mga perfected contracts po dapat napaalis. Ang sakop lang nung ban ay yung mga bagong mga kontrata na ipinasok matapos po mag-issue ng ban ang POEA [Philippine Overseas Employment Administration],” Roque said.

(Those who have contracts to work overseas would be allowed to leave the country. The ban covers only new contracts.)

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) had temporarily suspended the deployment of workers abroad so they could help the country in fighting the pandemic.

But the deployment ban was revised, allowing nurses and other health care workers with existing contracts to return to their jobs abroad.

President Rodrigo Duterte, during an earlier public address, said he would consult the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the legality of stopping health workers from migrating to other countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.