Philippines lifts COVID-19-related travel restrictions on Taiwan

The Philippines has lifted the ban on travel to and from Taiwan in connection with efforts to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus Disease-2019, Malacañang said on Friday.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the decision was made following a meeting of Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on Friday.

“Accordingly, travel may now be made by any national to Taiwan from the Philippines and vice versa,” Panelo said in a statement.

“The lifting of travel restrictions for Taiwan has been agreed by the members of the IATF by reason of the strict measures they are undertaking, as well as the protocols they are implementing to address the COVID-19.”

Panelo said the IATF would also evaluate other jurisdictions, including Macau, for the possible lifting of the travel ban after their submission of the protocols meant to "prevent potential carriers of the virus from entering and deporting their territory."

The protocols also seek to "enable others to determine the recent travel history of any traveler exiting their borders.”

The Philippines' COVID-19 travel ban also covers mainland China and Hong Kong.

“The Office of the President likewise stresses that any resolution relative to travel restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 shall be subjected to regular review by the IATF,” Panelo said.

Taiwan’s government had previously discussed possible retaliatory measures against the Philippines that may include the cancellation of the visa-free entry for Filipinos as a result of the travel ban.

Taiwan had also insisted that it was a state independent from China.

Malacañang earlier said the safety of the Filipino people, not politics, was the reason for the temporary travel ban.

Taiwan on Friday welcomed the Philippine government's decision.

In a statement, the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), Taipei's de-facto embassy in Manila, expressed "deep appreciation to all Filipino friends who have voiced their sincere support for removing Taiwan from the temporary travel ban."

"We especially commend the Manila Economic and Cultural Office for its tireless efforts to help remove Taiwan from the travel ban. The Republic of China (Taiwan) attaches great importance to its long-standing relationship with the Republic of the Philippines. We are determined to strengthen our bilateral ties and promote our people-to-people connectivity," the statement said.

TECO's Philippine counterpart, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, thanked President Rodrigo Duterte and the inter-agency task force.

"We thank the IATF for their open-mindedness that allowed the reconsideration of the travel ban on Taiwan. MECO and the 160,000 overseas Filipinos here are very thankful for their quick action, and the President for his openness and concern," MECO chairman Angelito Banayo said in a statement.

A self-ruling democratic island, Taiwan separated from mainland China in 1949. However, Beijing still considers Taiwan as part of China.

The World Health Organization has also labeled Taiwan as Chinese territory and has lumped its coronavirus cases with China, prompting countries, including the Philippines, to enforce a travel ban.

Such move was denounced by the Taiwanese government. —DVM/NB, GMA News