DMW: Singapore asked for more Filipino health workers

SINGAPORE—Singapore is looking to hire more Filipino health care workers, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said on Tuesday.

Speaking at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s meeting with the Filipino community at the National University of Singapore, Ople said the Singaporean government has reached out about their need for Filipino medical personnel.

"Ang good news po, mismong gobyerno ng Singapore ang nag-reach out sa atin. Nandito 'yung kanilang ambassador ng Singapore sa Pilipinas at humihingi po sila ng karagdagang mga Pilipinong health workers," Ople said.

"Sobrang napabilib po sila ng health workers, dahil sobrang napabilib po sila ng ating manggagawa noong panahon ng pandemya," she added.

Ople said a joint communique would be signed with Singapore's Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

"Nakasaad po doon ang kanilang paniniwala at kagustuhan na makahire pa po ng healthcare worker natin," Ople said.

Marcos said this would translate to thousands of jobs for Filipinos. He added that Singapore was also eyeing to hire workers in the aviation services as well as engineers.

He said his state visit to Singapore would also seek to maximize the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

"Singapore was already our highest investor in 2021, and we have Singaporean companies with big ticket projects in areas of telcos, infrastructure, start-up and innovation, renewable energy and healthcare," Marcos said.

"That’s why our economic team ay makikipagkita sa mga possible investor na maglalagay ng negosyo sa Pilipinas," he added.

Marcos set aside time to meet Filipinos at the Ho Bee Auditorium at the National University of Singapore.

He vowed that his administration would provide efficient services to overseas Filipino workers.

"Kami po na nandito ay inyong lingkod-bayan at patuloy na magbibigay ng sakripisyo. Kaya naman pinagiibayo rin ng ating gobyerno ang paghatid sa inyo ng mabilis at pulidong serbisyo dito sa Singapore," Marcos said.

He said the welfare of OFW families should also be protected by giving them scholarships and adequate healthcare services.

Marcos said the OFWs competence and excellence was "not just in the creative space but also in whatever work profession or any other endeavor that we put our hearts and mind into."

"Lahat kayo kahit may ambassador tayo, kayo lahat ay ambassador ng Pilipinas at talagang sa pagka-ambassador ninyo ng pilipinas ay ginagawa ninyo at binibigyan ninyo ng dangal ang Pilipinas," Marcos said.

Marcos thanked the Filipinos in Singapore who supported him in the 2022 presidential race.

"Singapore had the highest, I think one of the highest or the second highest voter turnout sa lahat ng overseas automated voting in the Asia Pacific, third by percentage sa number ng mga bumoto," Marcos said.

"Ang liit-liit ng Singapore pero pangatlo kayo. 'Yung performance ng eleksyon ang pinakamataas na nakita ng embassy na recorded since overseas voting began in 2004. Muli maraming salamat po," he added. —NB, GMA News