The Philippines will dispatch 101 health workers to Japan on Sunday, the fourth batch of candidate nurses and caregivers who will train to work in the country under a bilateral agreement.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency said Friday that 28 nurses and 73 caregivers will head to Osaka Prefecture for an intensive six-month language training program before being sent to various health care facilities nationwide.
All the candidates have already completed a three-month Japanese-language course in Manila.
"I have no anxieties. My purpose is to be of service as a caregiver in Japan," said Aiza Belle Serrano, 25, one of the candidate caregivers.
Since the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement took effect in December 2008, 202 Filipino nurses and 329 caregivers have arrived in Japan.
So far, however, only 13 nurses and one caregiver have passed the licensing examination.
Japan also accepts Indonesian health workers under a similar accord.