Philippines increases cap for deployment of health workers abroad amid pandemic

Malacañang said Friday the annual cap for deployment of new hire health workers abroad has been increased to 7,000 from 6,000 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution 153 provides that nurses whose visas will expire on December 31 will be prioritized in the increased cap for deployment.

The Department of Labor and Employment classifies the work done by health workers as "mission critical skills."

The IATF last increased the annual cap from 5,000 to 6,000 in June 2021.—AOL, GMA News