Following lifting of travel ban, BI now allows travel going to, from Taiwan

While Taiwan is out from the list of countries included in the ban, the travel restrictions that the Philippines imposed on China, Hong Kong, and Macau remain. (File photo: MIAA via PNA)

The Philippine Immigration Bureau on Saturday, February 15, implemented the lifting of the travel ban in Taiwan, now allowing foreigners and Filipinos to travel to and from the said country.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente ordered this implementation after they received an order from the Office of the President lifting the travel restrictions the Philippines imposed on Taiwan amid the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

“This follows the resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Disease (IATF), which we are bound to implement immediately. Hence, travel may now be made by any foreign national to Taiwan from the Philippines and vice versa,” Morente said.

Members of the diplomatic corps, regardless of their nationality, were also permitted to pass through the Philippine doors.

While Taiwan is out from the list of countries included in the ban, the travel restrictions that the Philippines imposed on China, Hong Kong, and Macau remain. Filipinos and permanent resident visa holders were only the ones allowed to enter the Philippines from the said countries.

“We believe there are studies being done by the IATF to possibly lift the travel ban to other jurisdictions. We are on standby, ready to implement any policy change as deemed appropriate by the IATF,” Morente said.

On Friday, the Palace announced that it lifted the travel ban on Taiwan, a move that Morente has welcomed, adding that the BI is ready to implement any policy change as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte and with recommendations from IATF.

Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson Eric Domingo on Monday said Taiwan was included in the travel ban as the World Health Organization (WHO) considers it a part of China, where the virus originated.

This was denounced by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, saying Taiwan was “wrongly included” in the ban. It then urged the Philippines to “immediately correct its decision on Taiwan and remove Taiwan from the travel ban.”