Gov’t suspends deployment of nurses

READ AND WEEP Cristy Donguines, a government nurse, shows her payslip during a protest action outside Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila, after the budget department announced the release of P311.8 million to fund the special risk allowance of some 20,000 overworked but underpaid health workers. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The government has suspended the overseas deployment of newly hired nurses since the 6,500 deployment limit this year has been reached. In an advisory dated Oct. 26 but released on Wednesday, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said health-care workers who were already issued their overseas employment certificates will be allowed to depart. The suspension will take effect until a new resolution has been issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, said the POEA. The government has originally allowed up to 5,000 health-care workers to leave the country for overseas jobs this year. —DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN