LAW ENFORCEMENT:MECO Chairman Angelito Banayo called for closer cooperation to better address ‘borderless’ crimes such as drug smuggling and human trafficking
Taipei Times
Date: Sep 29, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA
Philippine nationals could become eligible for visa-free entry for stays in Taiwan of up
Taiwan External Trade Development Council chairman James Huang is interviewed by reporters in Manila yesterday. James Huang calls the Executive Yuan’s approval of the visa waiver program to Philippine nationals “the best gift,” saying it will greatly benefit bilateral exchanges. Photo: CNA
to 14 days by next month or November, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Director-General Winston Chen (陳文儀) said yesterday.
The details of the new policy were hammered out at an interministerial meeting of national security, police, immigration and other officials, Chen said at a news conference, adding that Premier William Lai (賴清德) approved the program on Wednesday.
The government has decided to implement the visa-free program on a trial basis to promote people-to-people, tourist and commercial exchanges between Taiwan and the Philippines, Chen said, adding that the start date for the trial is expected to be announced in a month.
The government encourages Manila to follow the principle of reciprocity and grant Taiwanese nationals visa-free privileges as soon as possible, Chen said.
The government has since Aug. 1 relaxed visa rules for nationals of the 10 ASEAN member states, which include the Philippines, as well as for Indian nationals.
Taiwan included the Philippines in its electronic visa program on Oct. 7 last year.
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