Sept. 25, 2021- Manila, Philippines- IT can be considered as a triumph of the labor sector here in the country should Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III be elected as member of the Philippine Senate this 2022 elections.

A seasoned statesman and public servant, Sec. Bello isn’t a new face in politics in fact he’s started his career serving his province of Isabela then to several important post in the executive and legislative branch that spans several regime.

His department helped a lot of displaced workers especially during the hard times of the pandemic where companies either closed down, retrenched workers or limit their time of operations with DOLE’s TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers).

At the interview conducted by DZMJ Online recently at the secretary’s office in Intramuros he talked about their programs concerning job creation with emphasis on the informal sector and returning overseas Filipino workers.

At the part where DZMJ Online ask the Secretary should he be elected at the Senate come 2022 national elections, he says that he’s studying  to propose a bill that would eliminate the existing qualifying exams like those of the Board exams and the BAR and Worker’s Security of Tenure the full interview is at the DZMJ Online.///Mj Olvina-Balaguer, +639053611058, konekted@dzmjonline.net and maryjaneolvina@gmail.com DZMJ Online “Makabuluhang Jornalismo Your Happiness Channel”

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Statement of Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III
Signing of the Philippines – United Kingdom Memorandum of Understanding on the Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals
08 October 2021

The British Minister for Asia, the Right Honorable Amanda Milling, MP, and her entourage and officials of the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Philippines, Undersecretary Claro A. Arellano, POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac, a pleasant afternoon to all!

Today, we stand witness to this auspicious event, the culmination of months of exchanges on how to improve the recruitment mechanisms to further strengthen the protection of the rights of our healthcare professionals.

Let me express my government’s sincerest appreciation to the government of the United Kingdom for the full cooperation and support to this endeavor.

I also take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to the British government for the vaccine donations to the Philippines both through the bilateral channel and COVAX facility with 415,040 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine which the Philippines received last 02 August 2021.

Thank you as well to Ambassador Daniel Pruce, our Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in London for being our dependable partners in the drafting of the text up to the signing of this agreement.

The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding on the Recruitment of Filipino Healthcare Professionals between the Philippines and the United Kingdom comes at a very crucial time. We have concluded this undertaking at a time the whole world is struggling to manage and cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing about a global need for healthcare workers whose contributions to the pandemic battle has been undeniably crucial and immeasurable.

This global health crisis has affected both labor sending countries such as the Philippines and host countries like the United Kingdom. The Philippines had to temporarily suspend the deployment of healthcare workers to other countries. This was followed by a deployment cap in order for us to manage our own battle against the pandemic.

With the British government’s request for exemption from the deployment quota, the Philippine government assessed its own need for healthcare workers vis a vis the need of other countries.

We acknowledged it was also our duty to help other countries in their fight against the pandemic as a member of the community of nations. Thus, the Philippine government acceded to the request, with a colatilla that the healthcare professionals to be deployed will be further protected through a bilateral labor agreement.

While the British government already extends to Filipino workers in the UK the same employment rights and benefits as the British nationals, this agreement will further enhance the protection mechanism for Filipino healthcare professionals in the areas of recruitment, policy development, and education and training, among others.

The Memorandum of Understanding also provides the general rule on the promotion of their welfare in accordance with Philippine and British laws and regulations. Also important is that the signing of this agreement will further bolster the good ties between the two governments.

The pandemic has shown how strong and resilient our Filipino workers can be in the face of trials. With this, I would like to extend my personal and the Philippine government’s deepest appreciation to our Filipino medical workers in the UK as well as in other parts of the world for their invaluable contribution in managing the pandemic. We salute you for your bravery and heroism as frontliners. Rest assured that foremost in the policy of the Philippine government is the protection of your rights and the promotion of your welfare.

Let me conclude by reaffirming my government’s commitment in being the United Kingdom’s partner in facing the COVID-19 pandemic. I enjoin everyone to work hand in hand, in strengthening our healthcare systems and policies, and the protection of our workers.

Once again, a pleasant day to all and thank you for sharing your time in celebration of another milestone in Philippine and British relations in the area of labor and employment.

Maraming salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat!