At the night of May 4, 2020.

As per the presidents address,

Quoted from a Local news article:

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1269583/duterte-to-consult-with-doj-on-legalities-of-preventing-migration-of-health-workers

 Duterte to ask DOJ if it’s legal to stop migration of health workers amid pandemic

By: Krissy Aguilar - 7 hours ago

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte updates the nation on the government's efforts in addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). 

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday that he would consult the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the legality of preventing health workers from migrating other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ll have to meet again and consult… [DOJ] Secretary [Menardo] Guevarra whether or not it would be legal for us to just stop the migration of health workers,” Duterte said in a public address.

"Please do not misunderstand me. I am making it clear now. I do not want you to go there and come back in a coffin. That’s my only argument, if you may, because you are Filipinos and I love the lives of my countrymen,” he said, speaking partly in Filipino.

Earlier, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) temporarily suspended the deployment of health care workers abroad so they could help the country in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the move was eventually recalled, allowing nurses and other health care workers with existing contracts to return to their jobs abroad.

In an earlier address, Duterte appealed to health workers to stay in the Philippines.

“In ordinary times, you really can’t be stopped, and no one can tell you to leave or not to leave,” he said in Filipino,

To date, there are over 3.5 million confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide with over 245,000 recorded deaths.

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Appeal to Abolish Deployment Ban for Health Care Workers (Nurses,Doctors,Dentists,etc)

http://chng.it/LVRQVWChNQ

I hope our fellow HCWs can support this, kindly share this to our Filipino HCWs and im humbly asking Lets sign this petition to let the philippine government be aware of our voices.

Let's all understand that Filipino HCWs including nurse, doctors, and the likes wont leave the beloved country only if the compensation here is sufficient to have a comfortable life. REAL TALK.

We appreciate your concern about our health or safety, being at risk for COVID overseas, no questions about that.

But everyone knows that for the longest time, HCWs voices was never heard by the Philippine government.

In return, instead of giving HCWs job security, tenurity and stability what PH (DOH) offered is contractual jobs, volunteerism and the likes, which will not suffice for the hardwork and sacrifices of HCWs here in the PH.

For the longest time, the government also understands the problem of HCWs clearly but have not done any actions about it.

THEY CANNOT AND NEVER WILL MATCH THE WAY HOW OTHER COUNTRIES GIVES WELL DESERVE, ACCEPTABLE AND FAIR TREATMENT FOR FILIPINO HCWs.

Some people will raise eyebrows and will say

"WELL, THAT'S YOUR JOB, TO TAKE CARE OF THE SICK"

YES. That is our duty and responsibility but its not part of our Job description to die on poverty and not to get adequate PPEs that will protect us.

NO ONE KNOWS WHEN THIS PANDEMIC WILL END,

IT CAN END IN A MONTH, FEW MONTHS, OR POSSIBLY A YEAR, OR TWO OR WHAT NOT, NO ONE KNOWS.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT IF THIS PANDEMIC REMAINS UNRESOLVED FOR QUITE SOME TIME HCWs CANNOT GO ABROAD BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF STOPPING HCWs FROM MIGRATING?

FOR MY OWN POINT OF VIEW,

I'D RATHER DIE SERVING OTHER NATIONALS, OTHER COUNTRIES WHO GIVES JUST AND FAIR TREATMENT, RATHER THAN DIE HERE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY WITHOUT GETTING THE DECENT, ACCEPTABLE, JUST AND FAIR TREATMENT THAT EVERY HCWs DESERVES....

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A letter from a fellow colleague, Mark Anthony Beltran (giving proper credits to him) 

Please join the campaign.
LET HCW MIGRATE ABROAD.

Dear President Duterte,

Please listen to our voices. NURSES or HCWs have reasons why we want to migrate abroad.

Its not reasonable to say that because of the morbidity and mortality toll abroad or safety reasons, you plan to find legal actions to ban migration of HCWs.

As per statistics, working in Philippines has higher chances to acquire COVID19 here that may cause morbidity and mortality. Its our CHOICE to offer our services to a foreign land as a HCW and take risks because its our sworn profession.

We cant set aside in our minds that the other purpose why you plan banning migration is because, you want us to stay in the country so we will be forced to join the countries health care force because of lack of income, available jobs and choice.

Frankly speaking, Theres no shortage of HCW in the country. Many of us choose to stay at home, pick another jobs like BPO, Business etc. because we find the salary, benefits and protection offer is quite low and unjust versus the risks were about to face. If your main plan is to alleviate shortage of HCW joining to help in this crisis. The government needs to offer better solutions to entize HCWs to join our health care system.

In my opinion this are three options as solutions that the government may consider:
1. Offer a Reasonable Salary -
I think Php 60k per month can compete to offers for jobs abroad. This can entize or invite idle HCWs, those in other jobs to shift back to our profession and also entize people planning to migrate abroad to stay in the country instead.
Or implement entry SG15 Salary for all private/public. This was long fought for 18 years and due for us since 2002. We were wondering, as Supreme Court favors our argument for SG 15 Salary, why does our government is not implementing and delaying it? I think acknowledgement from congress, senate and the presidents office is Finality in Judgement in this matter.

2. Offer job stability and security.
Job orders and contractual job hirings for HCW is the culture that is always practiced in both public and private institutions. We professionals, we deserve equal treatment like any other profession who is offered plantilla or regularization upon entry to service.

3. Offer us better protection as HCW. Draft a law to penalize volunteerism, a law on moratorium for the right salary offer to both public and private institution.

We feel disrespected and has a very low moral because DOH initiates VOLUNTEERISM which was long debated to be unjust and illegal. We always feel abused and exploited because this was the move of our government. And also we feel that the government is using our sworn duty as HCW to serve who needs, using our compassion and patriotism in our country to get free labors in fighting this crisis.

Our main consideration working as a HCW is our families welfare and safety. We and our family did sacrifice a lot for our careers as a HCW so please RESPECT our choice to our personal plans and goal.

Thank you very much.