PRESS RELEASE
WDC-51-2025
24 July 2025
Embassy Press and Information Section
The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. joined internationally educated nurses (IEN) in their 1st Policy Summit in Detroit, Michigan on 15 July 2025. Labor Attaché Saul De Vries and Mr. Jo Mari Rifareal represented the MWO in the event.
The summit, hosted by the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) and its New York and New Jersey chapters, brought together over 100 IENs and healthcare stakeholders from across the United States. The global challenges affecting the migration and employment of foreign was among the major topics of discussion.
Labor Attaché De Vries addressed the summit highlighting the Philippine regulatory framework for ethical migration of Filipino nurses to the United States. He noted that Filipino nurses constitute one of the largest immigrant healthcare worker groups in the United States. Their compassion, competence and diligence contribute to their enduring appeal as healthcare professionals. The Philippines’ nursing education system has been influenced by the American system contributing to the attractiveness of Filipino nursing graduates among U.S. healthcare employers.
The Philippine state policy of protecting overseas Filipino workers has been the anchor of the country’s migration governance and the guiding principle for the deployment of Filipino nurses. It is also the policy of the Philippines to pursue a balanced approach in protecting Filipino nurses’ right to work abroad while ensuring that enough nurses remain in the country for its domestic healthcare system.
“It is imperative that we continue to collaborate with U.S. stakeholders and obtain their support in Philippine efforts to strengthen its own healthcare infrastructure through investments in nursing education, technology transfer and similar initiatives”, said Labor Attaché De Vries.
###
PHOTO RELEASE
WDC-222-2025
16 July 2025
