In line with the pump priming strategies to mitigate the impact of the global financial crisis, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS) Project on 9 February 2009 during the Multi-Sectoral Summit on "Joining Hands Against the Global Crisis" in Malacanan Palace, Manila.

The NARS Program aims to address the (1) glut in inexperienced nurses, (2) the proliferation of "volunteer nurses" working in hospitals without being paid but instead they themselves pay the hospitals to obtain Certificate of work experience, (3) promote health of the people and (4) bring the government closer to them. The idea is to mobilize nurses cooling their heels in their hometowns (due to low local and overseas demand for the services of inexperienced nurses) for work among their own people and provide them with learning and development opportunities to enhance their capacity to provide quality nursing and health care.

Unemployed nurses will be mobilized in their hometowns as warriors for wellness to do the three I's:

• Initiate primary health, school nutrition, maternal health programs, first line diagnosis
• Inform about community water sanitation practices and also do health surveillance
• Immunize children and mothers.

They shall likewise serve as roving nurses for rural schools.

Nurses will be deployed at an average of 5 per town in the 1,000 poorest municipalities, for a six-months tour of duty. Another batch will be deployed for the second half of the year. These nurses will undergo training and development for competency enhancement in accordance with the training program designed by the DOH in collaboration with the PRC-BON. The training program will cover both the clinical and public health functions.

Completion of the training program under NARS program shall be considered as a substitute for the work experience requirement of hospitals and other health facilities, both local and overseas. The Certificate of Completion shall be issued jointly by the DOLE, DOH and PRC.

While on training, nurses will be given a stipend/allowance of P8,000.00 per month. This translates to about P366.00 per day for a forty (40) hours training/workweek. As these nurses are already in their hometowns, transportation expenses will no longer be a problem.

The stipend of P8,000 may be increased if the host LGUs will offer a counterpart of say P2,000. Corporations may chip in by providing shirts, insurance, vitamins, etc., making the program a national enterprise with private equity.

Program Coverage

Unemployed registered nurses who are physically and mentally fit and willing to serve in their hometowns and who meet the following requirements may qualify for the training cum employment under NARS:

• With valid nurse license issued by the PRC
• Not over 35 years old
• Resident of the identified municipalities
• No nursing-related practice for the past 1-3 years

Nurse applicants who are dependents of workers affected by the Global Crisis based on the list provided by the DOLE Regional office shall be given priority in the selection.

Online Application

Filing of application for training cum employment under the NARS Program shall be done on-line at http://www.nars.dole.gov.ph, although there shall be arrangements for manual filing with the DOLE Regional/Provincial offices. Application forms may be downloaded or made available at these sites. The DOLE Regional/Provincial Offices shall provide systems access to walk-in applicants. Application may be filed from 23 February 2009 - 22 March 2009. List of successful applicants with area of assignment shall be posted on 23-31 March 2009.

Covered Municipalities

The selection of the 1,000 poorest municipalities shall be based on the LGU income re-classification per DOF Order No. 23-08 dated July 29, 2008. Below is the distribution of municipalities by income class:

Based on the above, nurse-trainees will be mobilized in municipalities classified as 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th class. (The income class of municipalities not elsewhere classified {189} shall be ascertained. Meanwhile the assumption is that these municipalities belong to the 3rd to 6th class municipality).

Timetable of Activities

First Batch (5,000 nurse-trainees)