DOH, DMW launch program for returning OFW nurses, health workers

The Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) launched Tuesday a reintegration program for overseas Filipino nurses and health workers seeking a fresh start in the Philippines.

Dubbed as "Sa Pinas Ikaw ang Nurse ng Bayan" (SPIB) program, the initiative seeks to enable returning Filipino nurses and health workers to gain local employment.

Aside from establishing an evaluation and monitoring system for policy-makers, the program also aims to provide psychosocial support in the participants' transition from overseas works to local employment.

In a press briefing, DMW Assistant Secretary Francis de Guzman said overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who initially signed up for the program were mostly nurses affected by the Middle East conflict.

"Du'n po sa nanggaling sa Middle East, 'yung latest namin na nakapag-sign up. We have profiled 312. Ito 'yung nakapag-Middle East na kakabalik lamang," De Guzman told reporters.

(Those who initially signed up came from the Middle East. We have profiled 312 of them. They recently returned from the Middle East.)

Seeking safety in PH

Citing the results of the DMW inbound profile survey of repatriated Filipinos, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said 60% to 70% returning OFWs from the Middle East decided to come back to the Philippines for their safety.

Of the 10,000 repatriated Filipinos, 20% or about 2,000 are children of OFWs.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said some of the returning OFWs already ended their contract and do not want to extend their engagement abroad.

"Hindi naman tayo nauubusan ng nurses contrary to what is being reported in media (Contrary to what is reported in media, we are not running of nurses)," Herbosa said.

The Health secretary said salaries and social benefits in private and public healthcare sectors in the Philippines have been increasing.

OFW teachers, too

Cacdac said the SPIB is the counterpart of "Sa 'Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma'am/Sir" (SPIMS), which seeks to provide similar opportunities to returning OFW teachers in the Philippines.

"Licensed school teachers who worked as OFWs, and now through the Department of Education and DMW, they have now been hired under the Philippine public school system, so they are back to teach," Cacdac said.

The SPIB reintegration program was launched during the 2026 Migrant Workers Health Summit at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City.

The health summit, which will run until Wednesday, July 1, provides onsite free medical services, including:

• hypertension and diabetes risk assessments
• tuberculosis screening
• cervical and breast cancer testing
• measles and rubella vaccinations for OFWs and their children
• discussions on mental health and nutrition

PhilHealth, Social Security System, and the Professional Regulation Commission, among others, are extending government services during the event.

According to DOH, an estimated 1,000 participants will join the two-day health summit. — VDV, GMA News