PRESS RELEASE
WDC-53-2026
18 September 2026
Embassy Press and Information Section
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) of the Philippine Embassy concluded its 2026 virtual Special Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (SPDOS) series on September 15, 2026, with 187 Filipino nurses bound for the United States joining the final session of the year. The session brought the total number of nurse participants in the MWO’s three SPDOS sessions this year to 868, following the March 17 and June 27 seminars, which drew 418 and 263 participants, respectively.
This year’s first and third SPDOS sessions were organized in collaboration with the Embassy’s long-time partners, the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) and the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA). The SPDOS covered the role of the MWO in nurses’ deployment, social and workplace integration, and relevant labor and immigration laws. The seminar was designed to help incoming nurses adapt quickly and confidently to the U.S. healthcare system while educating them on their rights and obligations as immigrants and residents of the United States.
During the session, Labor Attaché Saul De Vries presented the mandate of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the MWO accreditation process for U.S. employers and staffing agencies hiring Filipino nurses, which is designed to safeguard workers against unethical recruitment practices.
Dr. Mary Joy Garcia-Dia, Ms. Virginia Alinsao, and Ms. Melissa Cunanan of PNAA shared valuable insights into work expectations within the U.S. healthcare system, strategies for successful social and professional assimilation, as well as, information on available resources and support systems for Filipino nurses.
Meanwhile, Atty. Jeri Gonzales Abrams and Atty. Stephanie Wong of NFALA discussed key legal aspects for healthcare professionals working in the U.S., including labor rights, contractual obligations, and the legal remedies and resources available to protect and support them. Their session provided participants with practical guidance on navigating the legal aspects of working as healthcare professionals in the U.S.
The online session was also attended by the PNAA President Bob Gahol and PNAA Hawaii Chapter President Marianela Jacob. The initiative highlights the DMW’s ongoing effort to ensure that overseas Filipino workers are not only job-ready, but also fully protected and supported abroad. For more information on upcoming orientation seminars and other migrant worker educational sessions, interested individuals may visit the official MWO Facebook page or email mwo_washingtondc@dmw.gov.ph.
PHOTO RELEASE
WDC-230-2026
18 September 2026
Embassy Press and Information Section
