POEA to raise concerns of stranded Taiwan-bound OFWs amid COVID-19

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said Thursday that it act on the concerns of overseas Filipino workers who have been stranded due to the travel ban imposed on Taiwan amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
"Kailan lang po ay kausap natin 'yung iba-ibang sektor at kami po ang gagawa ng paraan para maiparating po doon sa inter-agency task force 'yung OFW concern na ito," POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said in an interview on Unang Balita.
He said that the Department of Labor takes as a "very serious concern" the possible "retaliatory measures" of the Taiwanese government against the Philippines over the ban.
 According to Olalia, around 6,000 OFWs are being deployed to Taiwan every month. A factory worker there makes around P30,000 monthly, he added.
Last Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) clarified that the travel ban for visitors coming in from China, Hong Kong, and Macau also applies to Taiwan.
“When we asked the World Health Organization very, very clearly, they always refer to just one China and Taiwan is included, even in their official reports.”
Under the travel restrictions imposed by Malacañang last week, travelers coming from China, Hong Kong, and Macau are temporarily barred from entering the Philippines while Filipinos and Philippine permanent resident visa holders coming from the same countries must undergo a 14-day quarantine.
Taiwan confirmed its 18th confirmed nCoV case on Sunday.
In the Philippines, there are three confirmed nCoV cases with over 300 others under probe for possible infection. —KBK, GMA News

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