The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced on Tuesday that Filipino migrant workers are not allowed to leave for Taiwan amid the novel coronavirus threat.
The ban was implemented on Monday night after the health department confirmed that the travel restriction was imposed by Malacañang, said POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia.
Malacañang imposed a temporary travel ban on all foreigners coming from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Filipinos are not allowed to travel to the same areas.
Olalia said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will assist the Filipino workers.
Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific both have cancelled their flights immediately after the temporary travel ban was rolled out.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, more than 115,000 Filipinos live and work in Taiwan, most of them are factory workers and household help.
Appealing to the government, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said in a press briefing that some Taiwanese were stranded at airports in the Philippines after it the ban was announced earlier this week.
“We are proactively in communication and have lodged representations with the Philippines, including the presidential office and foreign ministry, to tell them that we are not a virus area of China’s,” The New York Times quoted Ou as saying.
There are currently 18 confirmed novel coronavirus in Taiwan.
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