No HCWs for countries restricting Pinoys’ entry

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is not sending additional health care workers (HCW) to countries that are restricting the entry of Filipinos.

In a resolution, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said the HCW deployment ceiling should be enforced in “accordance with existing entry restrictions of Filipino nationals.”

The government previously banned the deployment of OFWs to Oman after the Arab country restricted entry of Filipino nationals. Several other countries have imposed restrictions on the entry of Filipinos due to high COVID cases in the country.

While the government has increased the deployment ceiling for newly hired HCWs from 5,000 to 6,500 this year, POEA chief Bernard Olalia said the policy should be applied consistent with the non-deployment of OFWs in non-compliant countries.

The HCWs to be hired under government-to-government agreements and returning HCWs are exempted from the cap.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bong Go has appealed to government agencies to ensure that the allowances and other benefits due to health workers serving as frontliners and risking their lives to serve others are paid.

He stressed that, since the effectiveness of the funding provisions of the Bayanihan 2 Law is expected to expire on June 30, agencies must ensure that the funds are released, the programs stipulated in the law are implemented and the opportunity to benefit from it is not wasted.