Good news, travelers.
Filipinos visiting Taiwan can enjoy visa-free travel until July 31 next year, according to Kyodo News.
Taiwan began offering this benefit to Filipinos in November last year for what was initially a nine-month period. As before, Filipinos can travel for up to 14 days within the country.
Tweets of jubilation from Filipinos have been posted online because of the good news.
Wrote @aikasarmiento: “Yay! Extended visa-free entry to Taiwan until July 2019.”
Yaaaay! Extended visa-free entry to Taiwan until July 2019
— Aika Sarmiento (@aiksarmiento) June 28, 2018
Wrote user @jayparrs: “Yayyyy can’t wait for my trip on [sic] October.”
Taiwan’s visa free program is extended until next year. Yayyyyy can’t wait for my trip on October
— Jhelyn Parrenas (@jayparrs) June 28, 2018
Reacted @fairieyeol1127: “Extended visa free [travel] to Taiwan until next year [J]uly yaaasss!!!”
Extended visa free sa taiwan until next year july yaaasss!!!
— (@fairieyeol1127) June 28, 2018
Aside from Taiwan, Filipinos can travel to 63 other countries without the need for a visa. It’s a pitiful number, especially when compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors such as Singapore (visa-free travel to 166 countries), Malaysia (162), and Thailand (80).
This explains why news such as Taiwan’s announcement is met with such overwhelmingly positive response.
