Special lanes for Taiwan-bound OFWs set
PANGASINENSES who have already secured employment in Taiwan but caught in the new work visa requirements can avail of special lanes in five government agencies who have recently been directed to provide Taiwan-bound overseas Filipino workers special assistance.
In a memorandum dated February 14, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and National Statistics Office to set up in their respective offices special lanes dedicated to the processing and authentication or issuance of documents for OFWs going to Taiwan.
In a separate letter, Ochoa also asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to fast track the issuance of identification cards.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Manila recently announced that Taiwan-bound Filipinos would have to submit additional documents as a pre-requisite for the issuance of work visa.
Under TECO’s new guidelines, workers seeking deployment to Taiwan must submit a DFA- and TECO-authenticated birth certificate and NBI clearance, as well as the original and photocopies of ID cards issued by the SSS, PhilHealth and COMELEC.
“Our priority here is the welfare of our citizens who have already obtained employment in Taiwan, but are now having difficulty getting their visas to Taiwan because of the new requirements issued by TECO,” Ochoa said.
Diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the Philippines has recently been strained following the deportation by the Philippines, against Taiwan’s position, of 14 Taiwanese to China who are suspected criminals.
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