Japanese Minister for Economic Affairs Yokota Naobumi recently attended the send-off ceremony hosted by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for the 18th Batch of Filipino Candidates for Nurse and Certified Careworker Program under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Japan and the Philippines.
In his remarks, Minister Yokota noted this year marks the 70th anniversary of friendship between Japan and the Philippines and highlighted how the two countries have continued to deepen their partnership in various fields.
He also cited the EPA as a landmark initiative in the area of economic cooperation, and that the program for nurse and certified careworker has significantly contributed to strengthening the bilateral relations.
During the event, DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac delivered a video message addressed to the candidates. Also present at the ceremony were officials from the DMW led by Undersecretary Felicitas Q. Bay, and the Japan Foundation Manila (JFM) led by Director Suzuki Ben.
All candidates were hired through a government-to-government arrangement facilitated by the DMW and the Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services (JICWELS). This initiative is part of the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement, which was signed in 2006. Since the deployment of the first batch in 2009, over 4,000 Filipino candidates have participated in the nurse and certified careworker program.
The 18th batch, scheduled to leave for Japan this month, consists of 211 candidates (17 nurses and 194 careworkers). The candidates recently completed six months of Preparatory Japanese Language Training in the Philippines and will undergo six months of Post-Arrival Japanese Language Training in Japan prior to their assignments in Japanese hospitals and caregiving facilities. These language trainings are provided free of charge and include daily living allowances throughout the training period. The candidates are deployed to facilities that provides training geared toward obtaining Japanese national licenses in their respective fields.
