Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7) — The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will study the possibility of reimposing the deployment ban on health workers amid the threat of the new COVID-19 variant.
“Hihingin po natin ang opinyon ng mga dalubhasa at magkakaroon po tayo ng malawakang consultation sa involved sectors,” POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said in a briefing on Thursday.
[Translation: We will seek the opinion of experts. We will have extensive consultations with the involved sectors.]
Olalia added that their recommendation on the matter will depend on discussions with the affected sectors.
In November, President Rodrigo Duterte lifted the deployment ban on nurses, nursing aides, and other healthcare workers.
In September, he allowed medical workers with complete employment documents as of August 31 to leave and work abroad.
Prior to this, only those with complete requirements to work overseas as of March 8 were permitted.
Duterte previously said healthcare workers should stay in the Philippines to strengthen the country’s COVID-19 response. But some nurses’ groups have opposed the deployment ban, saying they have the right to seek opportunities abroad.
