Filipino nurses and midwives in Hong Kong will finally have a chance to enhance their competitive edge through a special licensure examination that the Philippine government intends to administer for the first time next month.

Dr. Ruth Padeilla, commissioner of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), said the President has directed the Commission to conduct a special test to Filipino medical professionals in the former British colony, some of whom ended up as domestic helpers despite their degrees.

“After signing an executive order for the conduct of licensure exam to professionals in the Middle East, the President also wants to extend the services to our professionals in Hong Kong to enable them to have the edge and competitiveness in the labor market,’’ Padilla said in an interview.

“If they pass the test and acquire the license, it will mean better job opportunities, good salary and better living conditions for them,’’ she added.

Padilla said the appeal (to conduct the test) was initially made by the Filipino Nurses Association (FNA) and the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (IMAP) chapters in Hong Kong.

The groups, she said had been clamoring for the conduct of the special test way before the EO was issued.

Based on the assessment made by the PRC, at least 90 nurses and 26 midwives based in Hong Kong will be taking the licensure examination slated from December 12 to 13 at the Bayanihan Center.

According to Padilla, hundreds of nurses and midwives have applied to take the board but many were not picked “because they either lack training or had been following the old curriculum.’’

She said the IMAP would assist midwives who still lack requirement should they plan to take part in the next licensure examination.

Moreover, Padilla disclosed that the Philippine Consulate Office also vowed to help the applicants expedite transmission of their documents through a “diplomatic pouch.”

The Metrobank branch in Hong Kong, whose office is located below the Philippine Consular office, also offered its multipurpose hall for free for the review classes of the takers, she said.

Should there be problems with the schedule (the test will be held from Saturday and Sunday), Padilla said the Consular office has assured to assist the professionals in explaining to their “amos’’ why they have to get the exam.

“So far, kokonti lang din ang may ganong problema,’’ she said.

Data from the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) showed there is an estimated 130,000 Filipino workers in Hong Kong, majority of them are domestic helpers.