Duterte eases travel restrictions for healthcare workers

President Rodrigo Duterte has eased travel restrictions, allowing healthcare professionals with overseas contracts perfected by August 28 to work abroad.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III expressed gratitude to the President for approving the recommendation to extend the exemption for health care workers with completed contracts.

This new policy expands upon previous exemptions which were limited to healthcare workers with documented overseas employment contracts by March 8, 2020.

Those with completed documentary requirements, including employment contracts, visas, and tickets, can now be deployed immediately.

The easing of restrictions also applies to "Balik Manggagawa" workers who were unable to leave the country due to the lockdown.

However, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stated that a total lifting of the overseas deployment ban is unlikely while the Philippines remains under a state of calamity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roque reiterated that the President prioritizes the health of Filipino frontliners, especially when going to countries with more COVID-19 cases than the Philippines.