Inalis na ng Pilipinas nitong Biyernes ang travel ban sa Taiwan na unang ipinatupad dahil sa pag-iingat laban sa Coronavirus Disease-2019, ayon sa Malacañang.

Ayon kay Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, ang desisyon ay nabuo matapos ang pulong ng Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) nitong Biyernes.

“Accordingly, travel may now be made by any national to Taiwan from the Philippines and vice versa,” pahayag ng opisyal.

“The lifting of travel restrictions for Taiwan has been agreed by the members of the IATF by reason of the strict measures they are undertaking, as well as the protocols they are implementing to address the COVID-19," dagdag ni Panelo.

Ikinatuwa naman ng pamahalaan ng Taiwan ang desisyon ng Pilipinas.

"We especially commend the Manila Economic and Cultural Office for its tireless efforts to help remove Taiwan from the travel ban. The Republic of China (Taiwan) attaches great importance to its long-standing relationship with the Republic of the Philippines. We are determined to strengthen our bilateral ties and promote our people-to-people connectivity," saad sa pahayag ng Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO).

Ayon kay Panelo, pag-aaralan din ng IATF ang iba pang lugar tulad ng Macau matapos itong magbigay ng protocols kung papaano maiiwasan na makalabas o makapasok sa kanilang lugar ang mga taong posibleng may virus.

May pinaiiral din na travel ang Pilipinas sa mainland China at Hong Kong.

“The Office of the President likewise stresses that any resolution relative to travel restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 shall be subjected to regular review by the IATF,” dagdag ni Panelo.

Ikinatuwa rin ng mga OFW na papunta sa Taiwan ang pagkakaalis ng travel ban na ilang araw din nilang ikinabahala.—FRJ, GMA News