Push Admin

Philippines raises deployment cap on health workers to 7,000: POEA

Article (news)

Jaehwa Bernardo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A health worker assists a hospital patient with her dextrose as she lines up with other people for swab test at a COVID-19 testing facility at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on January 04, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/02/13/20220104-swab-test-rizal-stadium-jc-3.jpg"/><figcaption>A health worker assists a hospital patient with her dextrose as she lines up with other people for swab test at a COVID-19 testing facility at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on January 04, 2022. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — More medical front-liners now have the opportunity to find work abroad after the Philippine government raised its deployment cap on health workers, an official said Sunday.</p><p>The deployment cap is now at 7,000, higher than the 3,500 limit from early 2021, said Villamor Ventura Plan, deputy administrator at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/07/21/500-more-health-workers-may-be-allowed-to-work-overseas">500 more Filipino health workers may be allowed to work abroad this year: DOLE</a></li></ul><p>The POEA is also in talks with the Commission on Higher Education and Department of Health to see if the deployment cap will be maintained, Plan said, noting that the country&#x27;s demand for health workers must also be considered.</p><p>&quot;Kailangan ng nurses natin na makahanap ng better opportunities siguro. Mahirap naman kung pipigilan natin sila,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Our nurses need to find better opportunities. It would be hard if we will stop them.)</p><p>The Philippine government imposed an annual cap of nurses and other health workers seeking word abroad to ensure that the country had enough medical front-liners amid the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>Plan said there are more licensed nurses after the licensure exams pushed through last year. Some exams have faced delays due to the pandemic.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/08/21/nurses-oppose-no-board-exam">Nurses&#x27; group opposes Bello&#x27;s proposal to scrap board exams</a></li></ul><p>There is currently a demand for Filipino health care professionals in Australia and New Zealand, he said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1925595" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div><strong>Opportunities in other countries</strong></div><p>In the same interview, Plan said more countries have announced that they would reopen to Filipino workers, with Taiwan being the most recent.</p><p>The Philippines has 5,000 workers that it could immediately send to Taiwan once the neighboring country opens its borders on Feb. 15, Plan said.</p><p>But for the entire year, the Philippines can send 40,000 workers, Plan said, noting that &quot;yearly, pre-pandemic time, we are deploying to Taiwan about 70,000 OFWs.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/07/22/taiwan-to-open-borders-to-ofws-starting-feb-15">Taiwan to open borders to OFWs starting Feb. 15</a></li></ul><p>The Philippine government also has an agreement to send health care workers and other skilled workers to Germany.</p><p>There is a demand as well for Filipino workers in eastern European countries and in the Middle East.</p><p>Despie such opportunities, the government still wants to provide local jobs to Filipinos, Plan said.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s still the policy of our government na hangga&#x27;t kaya natin, dito natin sila pagtatrabahuhin,&quot; he said.</p><p>(It&#x27;s still the policy of our government to give Filipinos work here as much as we can.)</p>

The Philippine government has raised the deployment cap on health workers to 7,000.

Philippines raises deployment cap on health workers to 7,000: POEA

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Philippines raises deployment cap on health workers to 7,000: POEA

Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 13, 2022 11:04 AM PHT

|

Updated February 13, 2022 12:57 PM PHT

Read More:

labor

abroad

OFWs

health workers

nurses

deployment cap

POEA

Filipino health workers

Filipino nurses

overseas Filipino workers

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.