Manila Bulletin
UK declines Bello’s offer to deploy more nurses in exchange for COVID-19 vaccines – British envoy
The United Kingdom government has stated it will not link the deployment of Filipino nurses to the UK with the provision of COVID-19 vaccines.
This statement follows a proposal from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III to deploy more nurses to the UK and Germany in exchange for COVID-19 vaccines.
UK Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce clarified that these are separate issues and there are no plans to connect them, emphasizing that the hiring of Filipino healthcare workers is based on UK government policy.
Pruce confirmed that any surplus vaccine doses the UK may have will be directed through the COVAX facility for fair and equitable distribution to developing countries, including the Philippines.
DOLE spokesperson Rolly Francia previously denied that the agency was trading workers for vaccines.
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News Sources
See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III proposed that the UK provide COVID-19 vaccines in exchange for an exemption from the 5,000 deployment cap for Filipino healthcare workers.
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Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon criticized the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) proposal to exchange Filipino nurses and healthcare workers for COVID-19 vaccines with the UK and Germany.
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The Filipino Nurses United (FNU) strongly disapproved of a proposal attributed to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that suggested trading Filipino nurses for COVID-19 vaccines.
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Vice President Leni Robredo expressed sadness over Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III's proposal to trade Filipino nurses for COVID-19 vaccines from the United Kingdom.
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The Philippines officially began its national COVID-19 vaccination program on March 1, 2021, administering the first Sinovac vaccine shots donated by China.
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