What would you do to keep nurses in the Philippines? Presidential bets answer

The presidential aspirants who attended CNN Philippines' presidential debate on Sunday were asked what they would do to convince Filipino nurses and health workers to remain in the country.

Amid the pandemic, the country's health workers have spent long hours and battled fatigue to treat and save Filipinos who have become ill with COVID-19, at the risk of their own lives and often while still awaiting special risk allowances from the government.

The question, "What will you do to keep our nurses?" was given to four of the presidential bets.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso said that he and running mate Willie Ong will establish 17 new hospitals as well as an infectious and cancer hospital that will open up job opportunities.

"Itong mga pasilidad na ito ay mangangailangan ng mga medical frontliners, ng mga nurses and doctors," the Manila Mayor said.

"And jobs—for nurses, sa kani-kanilang probinsya at rehiyon need not to go look for jobs here in Manila but in their respective regions and hopefully need not to go abroad dahil may available na trabaho para sa kanila," he added.

He also stressed the importance of investing in Filipino scientists in preparation for future pandemics.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said the government should review the salaries of nurses in the private sector through the tripartite wages and productivity board.

He made the remark as he explained that the government cannot force the private hospitals to set the salaries of their nurses at the same rate provided to government nurses.

“Hindi naman po natin puwedeng pag-utusan ang pribadong sektor na taasan at abutin ang salary grade level ng mga government nurses,” Lacson said.

“Ang solusyon doon ay mayroon tayong tripartite wage board na tumitingin sa minimum wages ng ating mga manggagawa. Dapat i-review ang sweldo ng pribadong sector na nurses,” he added.

For the government nurses, Lacson cited a 2019 Supreme Court ruling which affirmed the validity of a legal provision setting the minimum base pay for nurses in government health institutions to Salary Grade 15.

But the SC decision said implementing the clause would require a law providing funds for it.

“Ako ‘yung naghanap ng pondong ma-re-realign, nakahanap po ako ng P3 billion galing sa [miscellaneous personnel benefits fund] at agad-agad mismong taon na ‘yan napondohan ang differential ng sweldo ng mga nurses,” Lacson mentioned.

Senator Manny Pacquiao vowed to increase the salaries of nurses, medical technologists and other medical frontliners.

"Kailangan itaas natin [ang sahod nila] na, hindi naman natin sinasabi na ipantay natin doon [abroad]. Basta may dahilan lang para dito sila magtrabaho at makapiling ang mga pamilya," he said.

Pacquiao added that his administration would improve the health services in the country by establishing more tertiary hospitals in the provinces and other cities.

Physician and lawyer Dr. Jose Montemayor Jr. said that he would not be full of mere promises.

"Hanggang salita lang 'yan. Ako iyong may sincerity, na-threaten. Hindi dapat puro pangako. Dapat bigyan natin sila ng incentive, motivation...iyong mga equipment," he said.

"Nag-file ako ng petition for certiorari sa Supreme Court laban sa deployment [ban] kasi may live contracts sila. Pinigilan sila ng mismong gobyerno. Nasira tayo sa UK, Germany, dahil pagdating nila rito [noong umuwi sila], binan na sila [bumalik sa abroad].

"Nakita natin ang kalupitan ng gobyerno. Tataasan ang sweldo...those will remain words. Sino ang nakikipaglaban para sa mga nurses? Si Dr. Montemayor. Sinong nakikipaglaban sa mandatory vaccination? Si Dr. Montemayor. Ako lumalaban para sa kanila. Hindi salita kundi gawa," he said. — Hana Bordey, Joahna Lei Casilao, Llanesca T. Panti, Jamil Santos/BM, GMA News