Malacañang lifts Taiwan travel ban

THE travel ban on Taiwan has been lifted.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the decision was made following the meeting yesterday of Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF).

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

“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.”

Earlier Panelo said the ban would stay until the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends lifting it, Malacañang said yesterday

Taiwan had reportedly called on the Philippines to lift the travel ban which is part of government’s efforts to contain the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

“The travel ban, I understand, that included China, was on the basis of the World Health Organization including Taiwan as part of China. But since there is a ban on China, necessarily, Taiwan being part of China is included,” Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.

“And we always follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization.