A Catholic bishop has questioned the government’s cap on the deployment of medical workers abroad, saying the move will not ensure that there are enough health workers to assist in the COVID-19 response in the Philippines. The government, he said, should instead improve the working conditions, secure benefits and promote the welfare of our health workers to make them stay in the country. POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said they were waiting for the IATF resolution to see the exact coverage of allowed deployment. 16,000 already deployed“The actual deployment of our [health-care workers], which includes the deployment of new hires, direct hires and returning workers, already reached 16,000 plus as of August or September this year,” Olalia told an online press briefing on Monday. Roque said that before Mr. Duterte decided to lift the ban, he received assurance from Health Secretary Francisco Duque III that there would be enough health workers left in the Philippines.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 23, 2020 20:48 UTC