MANILA -- The Philippines and the United States are now studying the possibility of forging an agreement in a bid to strengthen the nursing industry of both countries, which was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.   

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said that he does not see any problem with the proposal to strengthen the nursing industry in the Philippines especially now that it is facing shortage of nurses as some opted to look for jobs overseas. 

But President Marcos stood firm that the Philippine government will have to study the proposal first before making any decision. 

“We do have a problem with our nurses leaving and going abroad and finding good jobs abroad. And we certainly encourage that; we’re not about to hold them back,” President Marcos told US Senator Tammy Duckworth, who paid a courtesy visit to the chief executive at the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday. 

“But we need to find these new schemes so that the brain drain is not quite severe as it is now.  We have a shortage, I think, at every level in our healthcare system and much of the reason behind that is the talent leaving the Philippines to find better positions. But certainly, we should examine that,” he added. 

President Marcos made the remarks after Duckworth said that the US government is studying the possibility of sending American nursing students to study in the Philippines as she emphasized that Filipino nurses are able to pass the licensure examinations for nursing in America. 

Duckworth also noted that they have more nursing students than nursing educators.  

“You know, it would be really interesting to see if we could send American students to nursing schools in the Philippines because, obviously, you’re teaching to a standard that they can meet licensure in the US. But we don’t have enough nursing programs in the United States,” Duckworth said. 

“So, we don’t have enough nursing educators in the United States because we just don’t have enough of them, and we have students who want to enter nursing schools but there are not enough space for them,” the American senator added. 

While there are no concrete plans yet on the proposal, President Marcos and Duckworth believe that the proposal will have a good advantage for both the US and the Philippines as it will also strengthen the ties between the two countries. 

The two officials affirmed that it is a partnership that the Philippines and the US can work on together. 

“Let’s look into it. I don’t see why (not).  I’m sure if we figure out the details, that probably…sounds like a good idea,” President Marcos said. 

Aside from strengthening the nursing industry of both the Philippines and the US, Duckworth told President Marcos that the US and the Philippines can also collaborate for the production of electronic vehicle batteries to meet the huge demand of the American market. (PND)