Taiwan extends visa-free entry for Filipinos until next year
The extension, the minister said, is part of Taiwan's efforts to foster stronger people-to-people connections and enhance overall bilateral relations with the Philippines.
An official statement from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming the extension is expected to be released on Monday, June 16.
In 2023, Taiwan welcomed around 415,000 Filipino tourists, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. The island nation is also home to an estimated 160,000 Filipino migrant workers.
The continuation of the visa-free policy is seen as a boost to tourism and cultural exchange, reaffirming the close ties between the Filipino and Taiwanese people.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Filipino Times
13 hours ago
- Filipino Times
OFW Remittances Reach Six-Month High in June, Driven by Strong Global Demand
Cash remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) climbed to their highest level in six months in June, fueled by steady demand for Filipino labor abroad and seasonal household spending. According to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data, cash remittances rose by 3.7 percent to $2.99 billion in June from $2.88 billion in the same month last year. Land-based workers accounted for $2.43 billion, growing 3.7 percent year-on-year, while sea-based workers sent $555 million, up 3.5 percent. For the first half of 2025, total cash remittances reached $16.75 billion, a 3.1 percent increase from the $16.25 billion recorded in the same period last year. Personal remittances also grew 3.7 percent in June, bringing the first-half total to $18.67 billion. The BSP attributed the growth mainly to inflows from the US, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia. The US remained the top source, accounting for 40.1 percent of overall remittances, followed by Singapore (7.1 percent), Saudi Arabia (6.2 percent), Japan (5 percent), and the UK (4.9 percent). Economist John Paolo Rivera said the increase reflects strong overseas demand for Filipino workers, particularly in healthcare, construction, and services across the US, Middle East, and Asia. He added that seasonal education and household expenses also boosted inflows. However, risks such as global economic uncertainties, currency fluctuations, geopolitical tensions, and potential policy changes like the proposed US remittance tax could weigh on future remittances. The BSP projects cash remittances to grow by 2.8 percent this year and three percent in 2026.
Filipino Times
2 days ago
- Filipino Times
Sara Duterte meets Filipino community in Kuwait
Vice President Sara Duterte traveled to Kuwait on Friday to meet with the Filipino community, her office said in a statement. According to the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Duterte joined overseas Filipinos for a gathering to discuss issues and concerns affecting their sector. The OVP said her visit forms part of her mandate to represent and advocate for the welfare of Filipinos abroad. The statement added that Duterte's official engagements comply with government regulations and that no public funds are being used for her overseas trips. It also stressed that the OVP and its 10 satellite offices remain ready to serve Filipinos both in the Philippines and overseas, despite limited resources. Malacañang has criticized Duterte for defending her foreign travels and for claiming that Filipinos abroad are frustrated with the state of the country. Palace Press Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Vice President's 'personal trips' would not solve national issues, and added that it was not her duty to 'lash out and discredit' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In a recent interview, Duterte explained that she has been traveling abroad to meet with Filipino communities and to visit her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, whom she claimed was 'forcibly taken from Philippine soil' and detained.
Filipino Times
2 days ago
- Filipino Times
Pag-IBIG Fund offers special 3% rate for initial 10 years to first 30,000 expanded 4PH borrowers
Pag-IBIG Fund will grant its special 3% housing loan rate for the first 10 years of the loan term, double the standard five years for the subsidized rate, to the first 30,000 eligible borrowers under its housing loan for the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (Expanded 4PH) Program. The offer is part of Pag-IBIG Fund's response to the call of Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling to further make home financing affordable under the Expanded 4PH. The extended fixed rate is expected to significantly reduce monthly payments for early borrowers and help accelerate the administration's housing agenda under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 'In line with the directive of President Marcos, we have enhanced the Expanded 4PH Program to be more responsive to the needs of Filipino workers. Aside from covering both house and lot and condominium units that members can purchase at a special rate for the first five years of the loan term, we are extending the effective period of the subsidized rate to 10 years for the first 30,000 borrowers. This means they will enjoy the 3% rate, already much lower than prevailing market rates, for a full decade, making homeownership even more affordable,' said Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, head of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and chair of the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. Aliling said doubling the fixed rate period allows early borrowers to enjoy lower monthly payments and stable amortizations for longer, keeping housing affordable under the Expanded 4PH Program. Ordinarily, the 3% rate applies only during the first five years of the loan term. First-time homebuyers, particularly those earning less than 47,856 pesos per month in the National Capital Region and less than 34,686 pesos outside NCR, may qualify for the subsidized 3% rate. All overseas Filipino workers, regardless of income, also qualify. Under this limited offer, early borrowers will enjoy the rate for 10 years, enabling them to save more and enjoy predictable, affordable amortizations for longer. The loan may be used to purchase socialized house and lot and condominium units under accredited Expanded 4PH projects, priced up to 850,000 pesos and 1.8 million pesos, respectively. The program offers up to 100,000 pesos in additional financing for home improvements, such as utility connections and home fixtures, and provides a 100 percent loan-to-value ratio, meaning no cash equity is required. Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta emphasized the deeper impact of the 10-year fixed rate for members. 'As we carry out our mandate to uplift the lives of our members and support the Marcos administration's housing thrust, this program offers more than just homes, it offers hope. With significantly lower monthly payments for a longer period, more Filipino workers can now achieve their dream of owning a home,' Acosta said. 'For our members who are seeking to buy homes, now is the best time to apply for a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan under the Expanded 4PH Program. With our special 3% rate fixed for the initial 10 years for the first 30,000 borrowers, we are empowering more Filipino workers, private sector employees, government workers, uniformed personnel, OFWs, self-employed individuals, and especially those with modest incomes, to gain greater access to decent and affordable housing, helping them build better lives,' she added. To make the process easier, the agency has launched the Expanded 4PH Online Registration Facility, allowing prospective borrowers to register and select their preferred housing unit online at . The special offer is available only to the first 30,000 borrowers.
