278 Filipino Nurses and Caregivers arrive in Japan under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement
Ambassador Domingo L. Siazon Jr. delivers his remarks during the Opening Ceremony of the EPA Training Program for Filipino Candidates for “Kangoshi” (Nurses) held at the Tokyo Kenshu Center of The Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS). Thirty-six (36) Filipino nurses will be undergoing an intensive six-month training on Japanese language and culture at AOTS’ Tokyo facility, while the other fifty-seven (57) nurses will be trained at the AOTS’ Kansai Kenshu Centre in Osaka.
The 93 nurses arrived last Sunday, 11 May, in two separate JAL flights, together with 185 Filipino caregivers under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). The caregivers will also undergo training in other language facilities in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Hiroshima.
The contingent were met at the airport by Consul General Sulpicio M. Confiado, Labor Attache Danilo T. Cruz, and Messrs. Emmanuel Austria and Dennis Cabatu from the Consular and Labor Sections respectively.
In his remarks, Ambassador Siazon said that it took five(5) years to reach a bilateral agreement for the deployment of Filipino nurses and caregivers to Japan. The Ambassador encouraged the Filipino healthcare professionals to be diligent in their language studies and to aim for excellence in their field of expertise. He stressed that “Mastering Kanji can be done. Passing the Japanese Board Exams can be done,” all that is required is commitment and hardwork.
Consul-General Confiado (left) and Labatt Cruz (right) were on hand to meet the Filipino nurses and caregivers upon their arrival at Narita Airport (Terminal 2) last Sunday, 11 May on board two separate JAL flights.
The Filipino caregivers bound for the Arai Gakuen Akamonkai Japanese Language School at Nippori-Arakawa-ku, Tokyo , wait at the Narita Airport Terminal 2 arrival area before boarding their shuttle bus.
Labatt Cruz with the Filipino caregivers bound for the Arai Japanese Language School.
Consul-General Confiado with some of the Filipino nurses who arrived last Sunday, 11 May 2009.
