Phl, Taiwan set to hold new talks

MANILA, Philippines - A team of negotiators is off to Taiwan for a second visit.

Chairman Amadeo Perez Jr. of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said they are going to Taiwan for the “final negotiation” to normalize relations.

“We hope that by (Monday) special envoy Manuel Roxas II and I will come to a ‘meeting of the minds’ with Taiwan officials,” Perez, the Philippine representative to Taipei, said.

Whatever is the result of the meeting with Taiwan officials will be reported to President Aquino, and Malacañang will make the official announcement, he said.

Accompanying him is Manuel Dimaculangan of the MECO board of directors, he added.

Perez said Roxas will fly to Taipei from Singapore on Monday to join them in the negotiation.

“We are hoping for the best and we are trying to live up to our commitment, and I do hope that both sides see eye to eye on (Monday),” he said.

Taiwan wants visa upon arrival

Taiwan wants its citizens issued visas upon arrival in the Philippines in exchange for the continued recruitment of Filipino workers.

Speaking to reporters, businessman James

Dy said he was able to convince his friends in the Taiwan government, including some

officials of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office to continue the contracts of Filipino workers in that country.

They also agreed to open Taiwan to over 5,000 Filipinos workers, he added.

Dy, Chinese General Hospital president, and former Filipino Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Inc. chairman, said he told the Taiwanese seeking an apology from the Philippines for the deportation of 14 Taiwanese to mainland China, that the issue is political in nature.

“I appealed to them not to fault our dear OFWs who need to keep their jobs for their families here since the issue is between the two governments,” he said.

Dy said the Taiwanese officials he had met granted his request.

“I am very happy to announce that all our efforts had paid off,” he said.

“The Taiwan government has relented to continue the privilege accorded the Filipino workers.

“They have lifted the suspension of those 90,000 OFWs thereby renewing their contracts. They have started to process the

application papers of those 5,000 Filipinos seeking greener opportunity in Taiwan and agreed to the continuation of workforce importation from the Philippines.”

Recruiters want lifting of strict requirement

Recruiters are seeking the full lifting of the strict requirement for Taiwan-bound Filipino workers.

The Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (PILMAT) is confident that Roxas would restore the warm relations between the Philippines and Taiwan.

Jackson Gan, PILMAT president, said Roxas would hopefully be able to iron out the kinks in the relations with Taiwan.

Taiwan discontinued the requirement that Taiwan-bound Filipinos produce a Social Security System card upon learning of the relief of acting Bureau of Immigration commissioner Ronaldo Ledesma, he added.

Gan said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda must avoid issuing statements that could not repair relations with Taiwan.

 “Mr. Lacierda should be more circumspect when he talks about sensitive issues, especially in issuing statements that have foreign policy implications,” he said.

“We should stop infuriating the Taiwanese with insensitive statements. It is time to close the book over this mess.”

PILMAT had called for the relief of Ledesma, whom they blamed for the Philippine-Taiwan row. He has been replaced by former military chief Ricardo David. — With Edu Punay, Mayen Jaymalin