Health workers may still go to 3 countries

Facade of the POEA office. Image from POEA Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — Although the government has reached this month its self-imposed annual of deployment cap of 6,500, newly hired health-care workers may continue to be sent to countries that have bilateral labor agreements with Manila, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said on Thursday.

Speaking at the televised Laging Handa public briefing, POEA administrator Bernard Olalia identified the countries as Saudi Arabia, Germany and Japan.

He said health workers returning to the country for the holiday season are exempted from the deployment ban.

The POEA imposed an annual cap of 5,000 in the deployment of 14 categories of health workers in April, but the original cap was increased to 6,500 in June this year. The 6,500 cap was reached late last month, prompting the POEA to suspend the processing and issuance of overseas employment permits. —JEROME ANING