POEA mulls increasing 5,000 cap on nurses’ deployment abroad

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) head Bernard Olalia. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is studying the possibility of increasing the deployment cap of 5,000 for nurses overseas, POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said Tuesday.

“Pinag-aaralan po natin ‘yun pong ating rekomendasyon. Na nang sa ganon magkaroon na tayo ng rekomendasyon na kung maaari, i-increase po yung cap,” Olalia said in a televised briefing when asked if the POEA is eyeing to increase the deployment cap on nurses.

(We are studying that recommendation. That way, we can recommend that if possible, we increase the cap.)

The POEA recently suspended the deployment of nurses abroad after the 5,000 cap was breached. The quota was imposed last year amid the country’s battle against COVID-19.

Those who already secured their corresponding overseas employment certificates are allowed to depart for overseas employment.

If the nursing licensure examination pushes through this year, Olalia said it would increase the chances of increasing the quota on deployment of nurses.

“At pag nagkaroon po [ng licensure exam] ngayong taon at medyo lumuwag na po ang supply natin, baka sakali po na tayo po ay makapagrekomenda na iangat po natin ang 5,000 cap,” Olalia said.

(If the licensure exam proceeds this year and our supply of nurses loosen, perhaps we can recommend increasing the 5,000 cap.)

The nurses licensure examination is set on July 3 and 4 this year.

JPV