No visa extension for Pinoys stranded in Taiwan due to travel ban —MECO

Filipino travelers who have been stranded in Taiwan due to travel restrictions imposed by Malacañang amid the COVID-19 outbreak will not be allowed to stay beyond their 14-day visa-free stay.

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) announced on Thursday that Filipinos stranded in Taiwan should “get the earliest flight back to the Philippines.”

“Should they face difficulties with this, they should contact MECO immediately.”

Some 200 passengers headed for Taiwan were earlier stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport due to the ban.

MECO Chairman Lito Banayo also previously said that around 100 Filipinos seeking to leave Taiwan for the Philippines had been stranded due to the restriction.

Banayo earlier warned that the Taiwanese government is mulling retaliatory measures against the Philippines over their inclusion in the Palace’s travel ban. 

He said that the Taiwanese government was offended by their inclusion in the travel ban because it seemed to be due to the One China Policy.

Malacañang clarified on Thursday that Taiwan was included in the ban for health reasons, not politics. —NB, GMA News