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Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said enough reserve manpower that can take the place of health workers seeking better paying overseas jobs.

“Naniniwala naman po tayo na mayroon tayong sapat na graduate at mga board passers para palitan po ‘yung mga puwesto ng mga nurses na mag-a-abroad,” Roque said in a press briefing.

Roque also noted that the country has a 6,500 annual overseas deployment cap for newly hired health workers.

The Private Hospital Association of the Philippines on Wednesday said about 5 percent of its workers resigned in the last 2 to 3 weeks alone.

“Kung hindi po natin medyo mapipigilan itong pag-alis na ito, baka po in another 6 months, baka po maubusan tayo ng mga nurses at mapipilay po talaga ang ating mga health facilities,” said the group’s president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano.

Some health workers earlier complained of low pay and poor working conditions.

On Sunday, Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Philippine College of Physicians, acknowledged that some health workers avail of job opportunities abroad because of the attractive pay.

“Kung mapapaakyat siguro natin, mapapataas natin ang sweldong matatanggap ng ating nurses ay maaaring magkaroon sila ng pagdadalawang-isip doon sa pag-alis sa ating bansa,” she said in an interview.