By NG Seruela
The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) allowed on Thursday (June 17) the increase of the annual deployment cap of new healthcare workers (HCWs) for mission critical skills (MCS) to 6,500.
In a statement issued by Malacañang, the IATF-EID said healthcare workers under the MCS with perfected contracts as of May 31 are part of the adjusted deployment ceiling. However, HCWs under government-to-government labor agreements are exempted from the said adjustment.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III recommended to the IATF-EID on Wednesday (June 16) the deployment of an additional 5,000 healthcare workers abroad.
READ MORE: http://152.42.253.13/dole-eyes-additional-5-k-in-healthcare-workers-deployment-cap/
Meanwhile, the IATF-EID also moved the implementation effectivity date of the testing and shortened quarantine protocols for the inbound travel of fully vaccinated individuals in the Philippines to June 22, in consideration of the full rollout of the process of validation of vaccination certificates.
The task force added that it has revisited the use of face shields and resolved to “recommend to the President the mandatory wearing of face shields in enclosed or indoor spaces of hospitals, schools, workplaces, commercial establishments (such as but not limited to food establishments, malls, and public markets), public transport and terminals, and places of worship.” – jlo
