PH has enough health workers despite lifting of deployment ban — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has enough health workers to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic even after President Rodrigo Duterte lifted the deployment ban on medical professionals, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Department of Health (DOH) gave this assurance to the President after it was recommended that the deployment be lifted.

“Noong nirequest po yan ng DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment] at ng IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases], hindi muna sumagot kaagad ang Presidente dahil nakipag-ugnayan muna siya kay Sec. [Francisco] Duque ng DOH para masigurado nga na sapat ang ating mga nurses dito sa ating bayan,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(When DOLE and the IATF requested this, the President did not answer immediately because he coordinated with DOH Secretary Duque to ensure we have enough nurses in the country.)

“At nagkaroon naman po ng kasiguraduhan ang DOH na sapat po ang ating mga health professionals dito sa Pilipinas,” he added.

(There was an assurance given by the DOH that the Philippines has enough health professionals.)

It was in April when the government barred medical workers from leaving the country as the Philippines needed them to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roque said the decision to lift the deployment ban was due to the slow down of coronavirus transmission and the nearing development of a vaccine against the disease.

“Inisip na rin ng ating Pangulo na siguro panahon na nga sa mga nais mapabuti ang kanilang mga buhay ay magkaroon ng pagkakataon,” the Palace official added.

(The President also thought that it’s time to give a chance to those who want to improve their lives.)

New cases of COVID-19 in the country have remained below 2,000 since Nov. 10. The Philippines has so far recorded 418,818 COVID-19 cases, of which 8,123 died and 386,486 recovered.

EDV