Taiwan will soon open its border for overseas Filipino workers, according to a labor official.
“Sinabi po sa amin, hindi na po magtatagal ay bubuksan na rin po ang border nila para sa mga manggagawang Pilipino,” said lawyer Cesar Chavez Jr., Philippine labor attaché in Taiwan.
In an interview with TeleRadyo Monday, he said the Philippine government spoke on Tuesday with Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor after about 5,000 OFWs were stranded due to the temporary entry ban due to the Lunar New Year.
“Siguro po inaasahan natin pagkatapos ng Chinese New Year kung saan marami ng bakanteng government quarantine facilities na makaka-accommodate ng mga manggagawa,” said Chavez.
He also clarified that the additional pre-deployment expenses of OFWs have long been resolved.
“January 2021 pa po sa kasagsagan ng pandemya, mayroong memorandum circular na inilabas ang POEA kung saan lahat ng additional pre-deployment expenses, kasama po diyan ang pre-deployment quarantine, ‘yung series of RT-PCR testing ay sagot ng agency at employer po ‘yan,” said Chavez.
If the agencies and employers do not comply, he said, they will violate.
Chavez said about 5,000 OFWs are ready to be deployed in Taiwan, while another 5,000 have their applications under process in the Philippines.
DFA: 2,700 passports not delivered due to wrong address
Some 2,700 passports have not yet been delivered by some courier services because the address entered by the applicants is incomplete, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In an interview with TeleRadyo Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said these passports are processed at their temporary off-site passport services sites.
“Marami dun sa mga kumukuha ng passport natin pag naga-apply sila ay meron diyan hindi naman ganun kalaki ang porsiyento pero kung minsan umaabot ng mga 3-5 porsiyento ng aming aplikante ay kung minsan ‘yung kanilang address ay hindi nakokompleto kaya hindi nahahanap ng ating courier,” he said.
Dulay said the courier tried to deliver the passport to the applicants three times. He said the couriers also called the applicant with their contact number and email address. If the applicant still does not respond, it will be returned to the DFA.
Dulay said passports could be picked up at their designated claiming sites. However, the applicant needs to email the DFA before going there.
DFA consular offices are temporarily closed until January 20 due to COVID-19.
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