DMW Sends Off 218 Filipino Health Workers to Japan Under PJEPA Program

Mandaluyong City, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) formally dispatched 218 Filipino healthcare workers to Japan under the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA) on June 4 at the DMW Main Office.

This 17th deployment batch includes 19 nurses and 199 careworkers who are scheduled to depart on June 10 and 11. The program continues to bolster the longstanding bilateral labor relations between the Philippines and Japan.

“Wala nang inisip pa si President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. kundi kayo, our dear OFWs. Especially those whom we send off today with pride,” said Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac during the send-off ceremony.

He praised the professionalism and perseverance of Filipino healthcare workers, comparing their dedication to the gold medal performances of Filipino athletes. “You are the Olympic gold medalists every single day,” he said.

Secretary Cacdac encouraged the workers to approach challenges with positivity and resilience. “Let the stumbling blocks you encounter become stepping stones to your brighter future,” he added.

Japan Foundation Manila Director Ben Suzuki recognized the profound personal sacrifices Filipino workers make, emphasizing their cultural values and significant contributions to Japanese society. “Working abroad for Filipinos is a sacrifice rooted in love and dignity, not just about income,” Suzuki said.

Japan’s Minister for Economic Affairs to the Philippines, Yokota Naobumi, echoed the governments’ support, affirming that both nations “firmly believe” in each worker’s capability.

Signed in 2006, PJEPA is the Philippines’ first bilateral free trade agreement. Since 2009, it has facilitated the deployment of 655 nurses and 3,760 careworkers to Japan, strengthening not only labor ties but also people-to-people exchange between the two countries.