MECO: Filipinos safe amid China-Taiwan tensions --- By SHERYLIN UNTALAN, GMA Integrated News

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said on Saturday that the Philippine government is looking out for the welfare of Filipinos living in Taiwan amid tensions with neighboring China. “So we would like to assure you, everyone. I’ll take this opportunity to inform you, in Taiwan everything is normal and, if in the remote possibility na magkaroon ng emergency situation, like for example earthquake, even war, preparado po ang Taiwan government not only in protecting their own people but even the Filipinos, especially our workers,” MECO Chairman Silvestre Bello III said at a media forum in Quezon City. Bello said the National Police Agency of Taiwan had assured the protection of Filipinos there. “I met with the Director General together with the head of the Home Civilian Defense of Taiwan and they assured us na iyong ating mga kababayan ay protektado nila,” he said, noting that Taiwan has 89,000 shelters that can accommodate more than its total population, which is over 23 million. The MECO official said that 90% of the factories in Taiwan are serviced by Filipino workers. Roughly 160,000 OFWs are in factories, while the rest are highly skilled teachers, farmers, and workers in the hospitality industry. "So, huwag po kayong mag-alala, everything is normal, our OFWs there are safe and there is no danger of what you call confrontation between China and Taiwan," Bello said. In deference to the One-China Policy, the Philippines does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a democratic self-ruling island that is still being claimed by China as part of its territory. The Philippines, however, maintains a de facto embassy in Taiwan through MECO. —VBL, GMA Integrated News

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