Brain drain saps the country’s economy

THE Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has begun to offer scholarships in nursing to high school students, with the caveat that they will have to stay in the country for a few years as a service clause. There is also a bill in the Senate proposing to offer more scholarships to nurses and doctors — as long as they stay in the country. The Balik Scientist program of the government has the noble intention of luring back Filipino scientists overseas to work here, but it has had limited success so far.

On June 15, 2018, then-president Rodrigo Duterte institutionalized the Balik Scientist program with Republic Act 11035, or the “Balik Scientist Act.” It aims to reverse the brain drain, strengthen science and technology capabilities, accelerate the flow of technologies, and promote knowledge sharing. It has incentives for short-term, medium-term, and long-term stays in the Philippines.

The incentives for long-term stays include relocation expenses, housing subsidies, international airfare and research funds. These are good, but then the starting salary pegged at Salary Grade 24 is rather low: P90,078 for Step 1. That is less than $2,000 a month, which is the salary of a part-time lecturer teaching one subject in the US. Only 10 scientists availed of the Balik Scientist program in 2021 (latest data).

Moreover, the vista of the internet has opened the eyes of many young Filipinos to the possibilities of carving a new life overseas, where merit and not social class matters, where educational opportunities are vast, and where an aging population means space for more migrants and foreign workers.

All of these have worsened the brain drain that has long plagued the country.

Brain drain indicates a substantial emigration or migration of individuals. Professor Joanne Young said it can result from “turmoil within a nation, the existence of favorable professional opportunities in other countries, or a desire to seek a higher standard of living. It causes countries to lose a core portion of their talent pool. Some of the consequences of brain drain include the loss of tax revenue. One of the best ways to reduce brain drain is to boost government investment in the local economy.”

As the Covid-19 pandemic winds down, there is still a huge need for doctors, nurses and pharmacists in the US, the United Kingdom and Canada. There is always a need for computer engineers and IT experts in the US, Singapore and Malaysia. And the need for English teachers in Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam means that the professionally trained Filipino teacher of English will have his or her hands full with job opportunities overseas.

When these people leave, the places they leave are harmed in several ways. If these Filipinos leaving had studied in state colleges and universities, the investments and educational subsidies given by the government for their studies just go down the drain. Moreover, expertise is lost with each emigrant, diminishing the supply of that profession.

Geographic brain drain happens when talented professionals flee one country or region and end up moving to a country that they feel gives them better and more opportunities. Several common causes precipitate brain drain on the geographic level, including political instability, poor quality of life, limited access to health care and few economic opportunities. These factors prompt skilled and talented workers to leave source countries for places that offer better opportunities.

Areas affected by brain drain end up with a lack of human capital, especially in the medical field. Another effect of brain drain is the loss of revenue. Governments rely on income taxes to fund their social programs and infrastructure projects. A mass exodus leads to a drop in tax receipts which can stunt economic growth and development.

How then to reduce brain drain?

While there isn’t an easy fix for brain drain, there are some things that business and government leaders can do to reduce or minimize it. These include increasing investments into certain areas of the economy, offering competitive wages, paving the way for legal and social reform, improving the quality of resources, such as housing and health care, and providing affordable housing solutions.

There is only one doctor for every 33,000 persons in the Philippines. This is bound to get worse as more and more of them leave the country for other shores.