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IATF to discuss possible exemptions from overseas deployment ban on health workers


The Philippines’ COVID-19 task force will meet on Thursday to discuss if there can be exemptions from the overseas deployment ban on health workers, Malacañang said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will tackle the matter following an appeal from nurses to lift the deployment ban.

“Ire-resolba po kung meron bang exemption o wala dahil doon sa POEA [Philippine Overseas Employment Administration] resolution merong exemption ‘yung mga na-process na ang mga papeles,” he said.

Previously, the IATF allowed healthcare workers who have signed employment contracts as of March 8 to leave the country.

The IATF earlier said the temporary suspension on the overseas deployment of medical and allied health workers was due to the continuing state of public health emergency caused by the pandemic.

The task force then urged the Department of Health and all hospitals and healthcare facilities of local government units to hire these health workers to supplement their current workforce.

GMA News Online is reaching out to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III for the decision of IATF on the matter. —AOL, GMA News

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