DOJ recommendations on how to keep health workers at home out this week
By Jeffrey Damicog
The Department of Justice (DOJ) hopes to submit this Friday, May 8, its recommendations to President Rodrigo Duterte on how to prevent health workers from leaving the country to work abroad.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday that the DOJ continues to look into how the government could prevent health workers from leaving amid the pandemic. “It's still under study,” he said. "Friday siguro (Maybe by Friday the recommendations will be submitted),” he added. DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete said that the study will have to consider numerous factors before making any recommendations. “Kasama sa pinagaaralan dito ng DOJ ay ang right to travel, at right to seek livelihood, ganundin ang pangangailangan ng ating mga ospital para sa mga medical professionals sa panahon na higit ng pangangailangan ng kanilang serbisyo dito sa atin (The DOJ’s study includes the right to travel, right to seek livelihood, as well as the hospitals that need the services of medical professionals),” the DOJ spokesman said. Duterte on Monday revealed that he has sought legal advise from the DOJ on how to prevent health workers from migrating to other countries during the pandemic. “I do not want you to go there and come back in a coffin. That's my only argument if you may because you are Filipinos at mahal ko ang mga buhay ng mga kababayan ko (I love my countrymen),” Duterte said.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday that the DOJ continues to look into how the government could prevent health workers from leaving amid the pandemic. “It's still under study,” he said. "Friday siguro (Maybe by Friday the recommendations will be submitted),” he added. DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete said that the study will have to consider numerous factors before making any recommendations. “Kasama sa pinagaaralan dito ng DOJ ay ang right to travel, at right to seek livelihood, ganundin ang pangangailangan ng ating mga ospital para sa mga medical professionals sa panahon na higit ng pangangailangan ng kanilang serbisyo dito sa atin (The DOJ’s study includes the right to travel, right to seek livelihood, as well as the hospitals that need the services of medical professionals),” the DOJ spokesman said. Duterte on Monday revealed that he has sought legal advise from the DOJ on how to prevent health workers from migrating to other countries during the pandemic. “I do not want you to go there and come back in a coffin. That's my only argument if you may because you are Filipinos at mahal ko ang mga buhay ng mga kababayan ko (I love my countrymen),” Duterte said.