Villafuerte made this statement via an overseas call from Japan where he is currently attending the 35th Leadership Program of Japan’s Institute for International Studies and Training.
This, after the recent signing of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), which allows, among others, the deployment of 400 to 500 Filipino nurses to Japan every year.
"It is always good to be prepared. We have embarked on concrete efforts to strengthen the chances of nurses and other medical professionals from Camarines Sur and other parts of the Bicol region even before the JPEPA (was signed) by giving them a competitive advantage over their colleagues from other areas in the Philippines," he said.
Villafuerte cited the fact that Camarines Sur is the first and only local government unit that offers free Level III and IV Nihongo classes to nurses, caregivers and other qualified applicants in and around the Bicol region.
"Whether we like it or not, there is a limit to the number of Filipino nurses that can be deployed to Japan every year. Since most of our nurses have undergone Nihongo classes, they already have an edge as they now possess the necessary communication skills," he added.
Camarines Sur’s Nihongo training program has produced a total of 333 graduates (49 for Level III and 284 for Level IV), mostly nurses and caregivers, since it was started in February last year. There are currently 700 enrollees in the program.
Last March, Villafuerte was also in the cities of Kobe and Kawanishi in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture and met with senior Japanese government and medical industry officials such as Governor Toshido Ido of the Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City Mayor Taturo Yada, Kawanishi Mayor Sususmu Shibao, and Kyowa Medical Inc.’s Dr. Kenzo Kiso.
Villafuerte went to Japan to explore the possibility of deploying to Japan nurses and other medical professionals from Camarines Sur and the rest of the Bicol region.
Aki Foundation president Akitugu Orui and Japan Nursing Service Inc. president Masaaki Hirayama hosted the trip.
Villafuerte said the provincial government has been working with the Japanese Nursing Service Inc., which has set up an office in Camarines Sur, to facilitate the deployment of nurses to Japan.
Japan has a high demand for nurses, caregivers and other medical professionals, with Hyogo Prefecture alone having an annual demand for 3,000 caregivers and nurses.
Villafuerte said the competitiveness of Filipinos in the global jobs market, especially in specialized areas such as health services and information technology, should not be left to chance.
"Other countries, even the developing ones, continue to invest in programs that provide their workforce an edge over their competitors. This is why we are focusing on sector-specific training programs that enable Filipino workers such as nurses and IT professionals to acquire skills that would give them a competitive advantage," he said.