Taiwan issue: PH looking for ‘alternative markets’

Ace Tamayo

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Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte says the Philippines is now looking for 'alternative markets' since Taiwan's sanctions

LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte says the Philippines is now looking for alternative markets since Taiwan’s sanction. Screenshot from RTVM

MANILA, Philippines – Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte disclosed on Friday, May 17, that the Philippines has already made a contingency plan for Filipino workers wishing to come back from Taiwan. 

In an interview with China Central Television, Valte said that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has been looking into “alternative markets” that would deal with the sanctions made by Taiwan.

“This is not the first time that we’ve dealt with this sort of sanction and the labor department has been looking into alternative markets,” Valte said. 

The sanction came after the Philippine Coast Guard admitted last week that they shot dead a 65-year-old fisherman after his vessel illegally sailed into Philippine waters

The Philippine government, through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), has already conveyed its sincere apologies over the tragic incident but the Taiwanese government still sanctioned and ban the hiring of new workers from the Philippines.

Liberty Casco, Deputy Administrator of  Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) confirmed that Taiwan has “freeze hired” applications of Filipino workers Filipino blue-collar workers, including first time applicants, substitute and rehiring since May 15.

On Thursday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been conducting its own investigation over the “unfortunate” incident and should not be subject to any interference.

OFWs in Taiwan 

There are currently 87,000 Philippine workers in Taiwan and labor authorities said nearly 2,000 new applications are submitted monthly.

According to Valte, out of these numbers, 72 % Filipino workers in Taiwan have been employed in the manufacturing sector. This means that DOLE has deemed it fit to look into other alternative markets who have “a high number or high openings for manufacturing sectors,” Valte exlplained. 

Valte also confimed that they have been looking at South Korea, the Middle East, and Malaysia as possible alternatives for the OFWs. 

“Our primary concern would be first, the welfare of our citizens who are there; and second, the possible effect of the sanctions – the possible effect that the sanctions may have on our OFWs who are there,” Valte said. 

According to figures by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Taiwan is the Philippines’ 5th largest source of remittances from Asia below Japan ($1.009 billion), Singapore ($865.5 million), Hong Kong ($420.21 million) and Korea ($176.4 million).

In 2012, overseas remittances coming from Taiwan totaled $167.98 million.
 –Rappler.com

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