President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has eased decades-old travel restrictions for Philippine government officials visiting Taiwan, in a move aimed at boosting opportunities in the country’s key investment sectors.
On April 15, Mr. Marcos signed Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 32, which relaxes limitations originally imposed under Executive Order (EO) No. 313, issued in 1989 during the administration of former President Corazon Aquino. A copy of the memorandum was released to the public on Monday.
EO 313 had barred all government officials from making official visits to Taiwan, receiving Taiwanese officials, or engaging in any formal activity involving Taiwan without prior clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Under the newly signed MC 32, those restrictions will now apply only to the President, Vice President, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Secretary of National Defense.
Other government officials are now permitted to travel to Taiwan for economic, trade, or investment-related purposes, provided they do so using their ordinary passports and refrain from using their official titles.
Officials must also coordinate their visits with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the Philippines’ de facto embassy in Taiwan. The new policy likewise allows Philippine officials to host Taiwanese delegations for economic discussions, as long as MECO is notified at least five days in advance.
However, the circular maintains a key restriction: no official agreements, memoranda of understanding, or similar documents may be signed with Taiwanese counterparts without prior approval from the DFA and, when necessary, the Office of the President.
