MECO representative returns to Taipei

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) resident representative in Taipei Antonio Basilio left for Taiwan yesterday to resume his duties, signaling the return of normal relations.

Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Representative to Manila Raymond L.S. Wang also arrived in the country last Sunday to work again with his counterparts, almost three months after his government asked him to vacate his post in connection with the fatal shooting of a suspected Taiwanese poacher in Balintang Channel.

Basilio said he and his counterparts in Taiwan would start processing the working visas of Filipino workers affected by the hiring freeze, which was among the sanctions Taiwan had imposed.

The lifting of the sanctions came after a high-level delegation left for Taipei on Thursday to personally apologize to the family of Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-Cheng.

Taiwan also lifted its “red” travel alert urging Taiwanese not to visit the Philippines, suspension of exchanges between high-level officials and suspension of trade and academic exchanges.

Visa exemption

TECO had also allowed visa exemption to qualified Philippine passport holders since last Aug. 8.

In its website, TECO said Philippine passport holders can visit Taiwan for 30 days without a visa provided they have never worked there and are holding valid visas or permanent resident cards of the US, Canada, Japan, UK, Schengen, Australia and New Zealand.

Qualified applicants may register online at https://nas.immigration.gov.tw/nase .

Records at TECO show that it approves around 4,000 to 5,000 visa applications monthly.