Rama urges nurses to learn Japanese language

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has urged Cebuano nurses to take lessons on the Japanese language.

He plans to offer such course, free of charge, at the City Hall’s Department of Manpower Placement and Development (DMDP) as part of his efforts to encourage Japanese nationals and retirees to stay in Cebu.

Aside from the nurses, the mayor said the free lessons on Japanese language will also be available to skilled workers who wish to work in Japan.

Rama believes that Japan will need more skilled workers to help them rebuild their structures that were destroyed by a tsunami, so he sees it best for Cebuano workers to learn the language in Japan.

“Kon ang mga skilled workers kamao mosulti og Nippongo dali ra sila madawat og trabaho didto sa Japan. Ang mga nurses usab dili maglisod pakigsulti sa ilang mga pasyente,” Rama said in a press conference at the City Hall. (Learning the language would make it easier for our workers to land a job in Japan.)

Rama instructed DMDP head Fidel Magno and Councilor Eduardo “Edu” Rama, the chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Labor and Employment, to coordinate with each other so his plan could be implemented.

The mayor explained that if Cebuano nurses in the various major hospitals in the city know how to speak Nippongo, this will encourage Japanese retirees to settle in Cebu City.In an interview with The FREEMAN, some nurses of an uptown private hospital said they are eager to take the Japanese language lessons.

“Maayo unta og apilon ni Mayor Rama nga hangyoon ang mga tagdumala og ospital nga ang ilang mga nurses nga moeskwela og Japanese language hatagan og allowance. Kapoy man sab kay imbis makapahuway mi human sa among trabaho moeskwela man,” a nurse of Chong Hua Hospital said. (It’s best if the mayor requests the hospital management to give allowance to nurses who will enroll in the lessons because it would be additional burden on our part to be studying on our rest time.)

Chong Hua Hospital is the first hospital in Cebu to get accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI), an international agency that sets international standards and evaluates facilities based on the quality and safety of patient care. — (FREEMAN)