The Philippine Airlines is not the only one losing key personnel to foreign organizations. Meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz, former spokesman for the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, is now working in Melbourne, Australia. When PAGASA head Prisco Nilo was given a public scolding by President Aquino over the wrong storm warning signal in Metro Manila for typhoon Basyang, PAGASA officials said many of their meteorologists had left the country for better paying jobs overseas, and there have been no replacements.
Yesterday another government agency reported that it has lost nearly half of its personnel with specialized skills. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau reported that it could not find replacements for nearly 50 percent of its geologists who have left.
This is the downside of the exodus of skilled workers and professionals: a brain drain that is now being felt in almost all industries. Remittances of about nine million Filipinos working overseas have accounted for a hefty portion of the country’s annual economic growth figures, with the levels barely affected by recent global financial woes. The exodus would not be worrisome if the country could continue to meet its own labor requirements, especially in areas where specialized skills are needed, but this is not happening. The nation’s biggest losses are the workers who bring with them years of experience in their chosen fields.
The lack of pilots is just the latest manpower problem to hit the country. A few years ago, private hospitals across the country were forced to shut down for lack of doctors, nurses and other health professionals, most of whom had left for better paying jobs overseas. College courses that provide better prospects for overseas employment have been popular for many years. The Philippines now has a glut of nurses following a slowdown in global demand and with the nation’s health care system unable to absorb the excess work force. Public education has also suffered from the continuing departure of teachers. Meanwhile, many industries are suffering from a growing lack of skilled workers and managers.
This problem will not be solved overnight. The best that the new government can do is lay down the groundwork for long-term measures to create better domestic employment opportunities and produce the manpower to meet the requirements of national development>
