Duterte hopes Filipino health workers stay amid pandemic

President Duterte expressed hope that Filipino health workers would not all leave the country for jobs abroad amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, acknowledging their desire for better compensation while highlighting the Philippines' critical need for medical personnel.

While acknowledging the appeal of better pay abroad, Duterte cautioned health workers about potential future needs in the Philippines, noting that the country is still in the early stages of the pandemic with rising cases.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) has allowed health workers with existing overseas contracts to leave, requiring them to sign a declaration acknowledging the risks involved.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. opposed the travel ban on health workers, citing constitutional rights to travel and work, but Duterte countered that such rights may be restricted during national emergencies, unlike in ordinary times.

Duterte noted the difference between the Philippines' democratic system, which allows for human rights considerations, and the absolute obedience demanded in authoritarian regimes like China.

The President also criticized the United States for recruiting Filipino health workers during the pandemic, suggesting that the US should prioritize its own human resources instead of seeking professionals from the Philippines.