The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Taichung extension office is to start downsizing its operations from today due to difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, MECO Chairman and Resident Representative Angelito Banayo said yesterday.
Only labor-related services by the Philippine Overseas Workers Welfare Administration would remain available in the Taichung branch, Banayo said.
Consular and notarial services, and overseas absentee voting would be available at the MECO’s Taipei and Kaohsiung offices, he added.
MECO chose to downsize the Taichung office despite the high number of documents and applications it handles due to geographical considerations, he said, urging the Philippine community in Taiwan to understand the reason for the move.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been notified of the downsizing, he added.
Arthur Abiera, head of the Taichung office, was scheduled to return to MECO’s headquarters in Manila yesterday to assume the post of executive director for Manila operations, Banayo said, adding that other staff at the Taichung office would be moved to the Taipei or Kaohsiung branch offices.
Passport renewal services would be offered in Taipei and Kaohsiung, he said.
Capacity for handling passport applications in Taipei would be raised to 100 passports per day, up from the current 50 to 70 passports per day, while the Kaohsiung office would be capable of handling about 80 applications per day, up from the current 40 passports per day, Banayo said.
MECO is a private entity that receives no funding from the Philippine government, although it functions as a de facto embassy in the absence of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the Philippines.
Visa applications at the Taichung branch have decreased due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, depriving the office of a large percentage of its operational income, Banayo said.
MECO Administrative Service Director Gerry de Belen said that the Taichung office received the last batch of consular and notarial applications on Monday, while it continued issuing passports and other documents until yesterday.
Those who have applied for passports at the Taichung office, but have not to collected them yet would have to claim them at the Taipei office, he added.
To collect their passports at the Kaohsiung office, applicants would have to request this via telephone at the Taipei office, De Belen said.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
RSS