DOLE to ‘slow down’ deployment of nurses abroad — labor chief 

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday said it will limit the deployment of nurses abroad due to the declining number of people with the said profession working in the country.

Speaking with reporters before the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the annual Independence Day job fair in Manila, Bello said he earlier met with officials of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) who appealed that the deployment of nurses overseas be limited.

“Kahapon ka-meeting ko yung Philippine Nurses Association, may shortage na rin pala tayo ng mga nurses. Meron na pala. All the while akala ko may oversupply tayo, yun pala, yung madalas na naka-graduate ng nursing course at nakakuha ng board, nagte-training sila ng two years and then they leave,” he said.

“So ang pakiusap sa akin ng ating mga PNA officers eh i-slowdown ang deployment ng mga nurses natin dahil kailangang-kailangan din natin ng mga nurses dito lalung-lalo na nung mga kagaya ng mga senior citizens,” he added.

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Nevertheless, Bello acknowledged that this move would be disadvantageous for nurses who are seeking high-paying jobs abroad.

“Kaya nga dito naman para hindi sila magnanais pang mag-abroad eh medyo pag-aralan yung pagtaas ng sweldo. Mukha namang itataas ng ating Pangulo yan,” he said.

“Instruction ni President na bigyan yan ng increase, hindi lamang nurses, hindi lamang mga teacher, kundi lahat ng mga nasa gobyerno…We have to recommend with the help of DBM [Department of Budget Management] siyempre, siya nagtatansya kung anong kaya nating pagtaas,” he added.

The labor secretary, meanwhile, appealed to hospital managements not to take advantage of nurses.

“I would like to take this occasion na makiusap ako sa mga ospital na wag niyo namang pagsamantalahan yung ating mga nurses. Dahil ang ginagawa ninyo, yung nurse nakatapos na, nag-graduate na, board passer na, gusto magtrabaho para magkaroon ng enough experience, para makapunta sa abroad,” he said.

“Ang ginagawa niyo, sila pa nagbabayad ng training fees instead of giving them their rightful salaries. ‘Yan ang panawagan ko sa mga ospital, ang yaman-yaman niyo na, makibahagi naman kayo sa kayamanan ninyo,” he added. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)