A copy of the letter signed by more than 400 Filipino workers of a Taiwanese company appeals for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to lift the travel ban on Taiwan.

MANILA (UPDATE) - Several Filipino workers and members of the Philippine community in Taiwan on Thursday asked the national government in Manila to lift the travel ban on the self-governing territory.

More than 400 Filipino workers of a Taiwanese food manufacturing company aired their appeal through a letter addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte, while members of the Filipino community in southern Taiwan issued their statement on video and in an accompanying signed document.

Jack Cheng, a senior adviser of IMEI Foods company, said 410 workers signed an appeal letter to Duterte, a copy of which was obtained by ABS-CBN News, amid concerns that the Philippines' travel restriction on Taiwan would prevent some of them from complying with their contract.

"They are actually taking shifts. Sometimes, they finish their work here in Taiwan, so they want to go home. And, in the meantime, we get new supply of workers from the Philippines," Cheng, speaking in a phone interview from Taiwan, said of those who might be affected by the travel ban.

In their letter, the Filipino workers said: "Kami po na mga manggagawa ng IMEI Food Manufacturing Corp. dito sa Taiwan ay nananawagan at humihiling sa ating pamahalaan na muling payagan ang mga Pilipinong manggagawa na makatungo sa Taiwan, lalo na po iyong mga may tinutupad pang kontrata sa paggawa."

(We, workers of IMEI Food Manufacturing Corp. here in Taiwan, are calling and asking our government to allow again Filipino workers to come to Taiwan, especially those who have existing work contracts.)

Cheng said the letter was handed over to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan on Thursday morning. MECO Chairman Angelito Banayo confirmed receiving it when asked by ABS-CBN News.

"We actually asked MECO to transmit or forward (the letter) to the government of the Philippines," Cheng said, adding that an undetermined number of their workers are stranded in the Philippines. IMEI only hires Filipino workers and have no other foreign employees, Cheng disclosed.

In airing their appeal, the Filipino community in southern Taiwan expressed fear on the "possible loss of thousands of jobs for (Overseas Filipino Workers)," saying, "Taiwan government would look for workers from other countries instead."

Contributed video from members of the Filipino community in southern Taiwan. Feb. 13, 2020

Signed by 20 representatives, their statement of appeal echoed Cheng and the IMEI workers' concern on the plight of stranded Filipino workers with existing employment contracts, as well as their confidence in Taiwan's health measures against the spread of COVID-19.

Taiwan protested the Philippines' travel restriction which originally covered only mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau as precaution against the spread of the novel coronavirus in China that has so far killed more than 1,300 people and infected nearly 60,000 others.

It took offense on remarks made by Philippine officials that its inclusion in the travel ban is anchored on the "One-China" policy, under which Taiwan is considered part of China.

Taiwan asserts it is not part of China. On Thursday, Salvador Panelo, the spokesman of Duterte, claimed the decision was based on health considerations.

Taiwan has since mulled countermeasures against the Philippines if the ban is not lifted two days from Wednesday. Panelo merely regarded it a natural reaction.

In an earlier interview, Banayo told ABS-CBN News any repercussions may be felt on the nearly 160,000 Filipino population in Taiwan, the visa-free privilege for Filipinos, and business relations between the two sides.

Cheng, a former ambassador of Taiwan, sought to assure Manila it has nothing to worry about the health of its nationals working there since "everything is totally under control," it is even "much better than Japan, Singapore" and other countries in the region as far as addressing the COVID-19 outbreak.

He said there are only 18 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections, of which some have already recovered.

His company, he said, values Filipino workers because "they are very nice, diligent, (and) communication (with them is not a) problem."

As preferred by the Philippine government, IMEI practices a direct hiring scheme, it has even gone to Duterte's home city of Davao in southern Philippines to recruit workers, Cheng said.

"If Filipinos cannot come to Taiwan, it's going to cause problems not only to IMEI Foods, but to many other companies here in Taiwan," he said.

-- Positive response --

According to a statement from the Philippines' labor department, Secretary Silvestre Bello III "is certain that the result of the assessment" by the relevant agencies "will be positive response."

In the meantime, affected Filipino workers, he said, are being provided P10,000 in financial assistance, and those stranded are offered accommodation, food, and transportation assistance by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

“For those who are affected by the travel ban in Taiwan, we ask for your patience and in a few days, there will be a review," Bello said.

“We are seeking understanding from our OFWs because the implementation of a temporary ban by the (Department of Health) is for your own safety as well. We hope for a possible lifting of the ban in a few days,” Bello said.