The following is a sample speech for a debate on the issue of 2-year compulsory nursing service for Filipino nurses.

ARE THERE NO BENEFITS WHEN YOU SERVE YOUR COUNTRYMEN? IS IT WITHOUT VALUE WHEN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOLUTION OF A BIG PROBLEM? IS PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE USELESS IN THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF A PROFESSIONAL?

MY COMRADE ON THE NECESSITY ISSUE CEMENTED OUR CLAIM THAT THERE IS A NEED TO REQUIRE FILIPINO NURSES TO RENDER AT LEAST 2 YEARS OF NURSING SERVICE BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE COUNTRY. IN HIS ARGUMENTATION, HE MADE MENTION OF OUR PROPOSAL AS A WIN-WIN SOLUTION TO THE HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS OF OUR NATION. ALLOW ME, DEAR AUDIENCE, TO USE THAT AS MY SPRINGBOARD IN SHOWING TO YOU THE BENEFITS OF OUR PROPOSAL.

BUT BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSITION, WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH ONE TRUTH AND THAT TRUTH IS THIS: WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SICK HEALTH CARE ENVIRONMENT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS SURROUNDING THIS SCENARIO BUT THE ONE GREAT FACTOR CONTRIBUTORY TO THIS IS THE SCARCITY OF QUALIFIED HEALTH WORKERS PARTICULARLY NURSES. WHY IS THIS SO? BECAUSE THE QUALIFIED NURSES ARE NOT HERE, OR IF THEY ARE HERE THEY ARE NOT ON THE JOB. THEY ARE BUSY IN THEIR JOB APPLICATION FOR WORK ABROAD. THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION (POEA) RECORDS SHOW THAT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, AT LEAST 84,843 NURSES LEFT THE COUNTRY. THE LAST 4 YEARS OF THAT SAW OVER 50,000 NURSES GONE ABROAD. THESE FIGURES DO NOT INCLUDE THOSE WHOSE DEPARTURE WAS THROUGH IMMIGRANT VISA OR THROUGH DIRECT HIRING WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO BE MORE THAN THE RECORDS OF THE POEA.

DR. MARILYN E. LORENZO, DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF HEALTH POLICIES AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES SAID THAT THE PRESENT NURSE-TO-PATIENT RATIO ACROSS THE NATION IS PLAYING BETWEEN 1:30 TO 1:60, AN OBVIOUS SIGN OF INADEQUATE NURSING CARE. THIS PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED BY THE GROWING NUMBER OF DOCTORS WHO LEAVE THE MEDICAL PROFESSION TO WORK AS NURSES OVERSEAS.

IN THE LIGHT, OR I SHOULD SAY, IN THE DARKNESS OF THIS SCENARIO, WHAT ARE WE TO DO? WE PROPOSE, AMONG OTHER PROPOSALS, THAT NURSES IN OUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RENDER AT LEAST 2 YEARS OF NURSING SERVICE BEFORE GOING ABROAD. THE QUESTION NOW IS: IS THIS PROPOSAL BENEFICIAL? THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING YES! ALLOW ME, MY DEAR FRIENDS, TO GO BACK TO MY INTRODUCTORY QUESTIONS.

QUESTION #1: ARE THERE NO BENEFITS WHEN YOU SERVE YOUR COUNTRYMEN? THERE ARE BENEFITS. ON THE PART OF THE PATIENTS, THE COMPULSORY 2-YEAR MINIMUM NURISNG SERVICE SHALL PROVIDE PATIENTS GREATER ACCESS TO CURATIVE, PREVENTIVE, AND REHABILITATIVE NURSING CARE LEADING TO THEIR RESTORATION OF HEALTH, ALLEVIATION OF SUFFERING AND WHEN RECOVERY IS NOT AVAILABLE, CARE TOWARDS A PEACEFUL DEATH (ARTICLE VI, SECTION 28A, PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 2002). ON THE PART OF THE NURSES, THEY SHALL NOT FEEL THE GUILT OF NOT BEING FAITHFUL TO THEIR OATH AS NURSES; THEY SHALL NOT REGRET ANYTHING RELATED TO UNDOING WHAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO; AND THEY SHALL FEEL PRIDE AND FULFILLMENT AT HAVING SERVED THE PEOPLE OF THEIR OWN BLOOD. REMEMBER, OUR BATTLE CRY: THE BASIC WEALTH OF THE NATION IS THE HEALTH OF ITS PEOPLE.

QUESTION #2: IS IT WITHOUT VALUE WHEN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOLUTION OF A BIG PROBLEM? MY DEAR FRIENDS, THE 2-YEAR MINIMUM MANDATORY NURSING SERVICE REQUIREMENT IS UNDENIABLY VALUABLE. ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, IT SHALL NOT BE BOTHERED SO MUCH BY THE MANPOWER FACTOR OF THE PROBLEM. IT CAN NOW EXERCISE ITS POWERS AND USE ITS RESOURCES IN ADDRESSING THE OTHER FACTORS OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH CARE PROBLEM. ON THE PART OF THE NURSES, THEY SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS HEROES EVEN BEFORE THEY SEND REMITTANCES IN CASE THEY WORK ABROAD LATER. THEY SHALL COME TO REALIZE THAT TODAY’S HEROES ARE NOT JUST THOSE WHO EARN BIG AND REMIT LARGE SUMS OF MONEY. THEY SHALL EVEN FEEL THAT THE GREATER HERO IS THE ONE WHO DOES HIS HEROISM IN HIS NATIVE LAND. REMEMBER: THE BASIC WEALTH OF THE NATION IS THE HEALTH OF ITS PEOPLE.

QUESTION #3: IS PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE USELESS IN THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NURSES? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE 2-YEAR MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE IS A BIG ADVANTAGE. ON THE PART OF THE NURSES, THEY SHALL EARN WHAT MANY FOREIGN HOSPITALS REQUIRE OF FOREIGN NURSES—AT LEAST 2 YEARS NURSING WORK EXPERIENCE. SHOULD THEY DECIDE TO WORK ABROAD AFTER COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENT, THEIR CREDENTIALS SHALL BE NOTHING LESS THAN ATTRACTIVE. ON THE PART OF THE NATION, WE SHALL MAKE A NAME IN THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR NURSES. WE SHALL BE KNOWN AS PRODUCER OF HIGHLY TRAINED, EFFICIENT AND QUALIFIED NURSES WHO WHEN HIRED IN OTHER COUNTRIES WILL SEND REMITTANCES THAT WILL KEEP THE ECONOMY ACTIVE AND ALIVE. REMEMBER: THE BASIC WEALTH OF THE NATION IS THE HEALTH OF ITS PEOPLE.

COUNTRYMEN, WE HAVE A BIG NATIONAL HEALTH PROBLEM. OUR PROPOSAL IS ONE BIG SOLUTION WITH BENEFITS TO OUR PATIENTS, TO OUR GOVERNMENT, TO OTHER NATIONS AND ESPECIALLY TO OUR NURSES. REMEMBER: THE BASIC WEALTH OF OUR NATION IS THE HEALTH OF OUR PEOPLE.

ON THE ISSUE OF OUR PROPOSAL’S PRACTICABILITY, THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ASKED: 1) ON WHAT LEGAL GROUND IS THE PROPOSAL STANDING? 2) HOW SHALL THE 2-YEAR MINIMUM NURSING SERVICE REQUIREMENT BE IMPLEMENTED? AND 3) WHEN IS IT TO TAKE EFFECT?

FIRST QUESTION: ON WHAT LEGAL GROUND IS OUR PROPOSAL STANDING? ANSWER: OUR PROPOSAL STANDS ON THE LEGAL PROVISIONS OF THE 1987 CONSTITUTION, AND ON THE MANDATE OF R.A. 9173, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 2002.

THE 1987 CONSTITUTION PROVIDES IN ARTICLE 2, SECTION 15, “THE STATE SHALL PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHT TO HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE AND INSTILL HEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS AMONG THEM.” LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE RIGHT TO HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE SHALL BE DEEMED WITH GREATER PRIORITY OVER THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHT OF THE NURSES. THEIR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, ANYWAY, IS NOT BEING REMOVED BY OUR PROPOSAL. THE SAME CHARTER PROVIDES IN ARTICLE 13, SECTION 12, “THE STATE . . . SHALL UNDERTAKE APPROPRIATE HEALTH MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH RESPONSIVE TO THE COUNTRY’S HEALTH NEEDS AND PROBLEMS.” APPROPRIATE HEALTH MANPOWER INCLUDES THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF RESPONSIVE, EFFICIENT AND QUALIFIED NURSES.

THE NURSING ACT OF 2002 PROVIDES IN ARTICLE 7, SECTION 31 THAT THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NURSING SPECIALTY PROGRAM ARE OBLIGED TO SERVE IN ANY PHILIPPINE HOSPITAL FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 2 YEARS AND CONTINUOUS SERVICE. ON THAT NOTE, WE ASK THE QUESTION: IF WE CAN OBLIGE NURSES WHO WENT THRU THE CNS PROGRAM TO SERVE FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS IN HOSPITALS, WHAT IMPEDIMENT PROHIBITS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2-YEAR MINIMUM MANDATORY NURSING SERVICE?

SECOND QUESTION: HOW SHALL THE 2-YEAR MINIMUM MANDATORY NURSING SERVICE BE IMPLEMENTED? ON THE BASIS OF THE LEGAL PROVISIONS CITED EARLIER, WE PROPOSE THAT THE PRESIDENT ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH), THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (DOLE), THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA) AND THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION (POEA) TO UNDERTAKE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSED MEASURE. THE DOH SHALL ACCREDIT ALL GOVERNMENT-RECOGNIZED AND ALL GOVERNMENT REGISTERED HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, BIG OR SMALL, TO BE CONDUITS OF THE PROPOSAL. THE NURSING SERVICE REQUIRED TO BE RENDERED IS AT LEAST 2 YEARS FULL-TIME AND CONTINUOUS SERVICE. VOLUNTARY NURSING SERVICE SHALL BE COUNTED IF CONTINUOUS AND FULL TIME. NURSING SERVICES IN COMPANIES, SCHOOLS AND OTHER NON-HEALTH ENTITIES SHALL ALSO BE COUNTED PROVIDED THE NURSING SERVICE IS CONTINUOUS AND FULL TIME. THE DOLE SHALL EXAMINE PAPERS REFLECTING THE 2-YEAR REQUIREMENT AND APPROVE THEREFORE WHEN SUCH PAPERS ARE FOUND TO BE TRUE AND CORRECT. THE POEA SHALL REQUIRE NURSE-APPLICANTS TO SUBMIT APPROVED 2-YEAR SERVICE CREDENTIALS. THE DFA SHALL APPEAL TO THE DIFFERENT EMBASSIES TO REQUIRE NURSE-APPLICANTS TO SUBMIT APPROVED 2-YEAR NURSING SERVICE CREDENTIALS.

ALSO, WE WILL ASK CONGRESS TO SET ASIDE IN ITS NATIONAL BUDGET DELIBERATIONS A SUBSTANTIAL ALLOTMENT FOR PURPOSES OF INCREASING THE SALARIES OF NURSES IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS. PRIVATE HOSPITALS SHALL ALSO BE URGED TO INCREASE THE SALARIES OF THEIR HIRED NURSES.

THIRD QUESTION: WHEN SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE IMPLEMENTED? OUR NATIONAL HEALTH PROBLEM IS IN NEED OF URGENT MEASURES SO WE PROPOSE THAT THE 2-YEAR MINIMUM MANDATORY NURSING SERVICE REQUIREMENT TAKE EFFECT NOT LATER THAN JUNE 2006.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR PROPOSAL IS NOT ONLY SURE-FIRE. IT HAS CLEAR AND DEFINITE GUIDELINES AND IS NOT DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT. FOR THE GOOD OF OUR PATIENTS, OUR NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR NURSES, LET OUR PROPOSAL BE ADOPTED. REMEMBER: THE BASIC WEALTH OF OUR NATION IS THE HEALTH OF OUR PEOPLE.