By Vanne Elaine Terrazola Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Wednesday urged the Department of Health (DOH) to clarify the inclusion of Taiwan in the travel ban being implemented to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Sen. Kiko Pangilinan (via kikopangilinan.com / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Pangilinan issued the appeal as he raised the concern that Taiwan's inclusion would affect thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and Filipino travelers. The DOH on Monday (Feb.10) announced that Taiwan is also included in the travel restrictions on travelers coming from and going to China, Hong Kong and Macau, citing the World Health Organization's classification that it was part of the China and the Philippines' adherence to the One China policy. Taiwan, however, opposed the move, and has called on the Philippine government to reconsider its inclusion. "We call on the Department of Health to clarify the reason behind the inclusion of Taiwan in the travel ban," Pangilinan said in a statement. "Is the ban due to the novel coronavirus? Are there health risks posed for Filipinos going to and coming from Taiwan?" Pangilinan said political issues should not be involved in deciding on matters about COVID-19, pointing out that Taiwan is a sovereign state. "Averting the spread of the virus and protecting the health of the Filipinos are the only justifiable reasons for the prohibition, not political considerations to China, which counts Taiwan as one of its special administrative regions," he said. "The administration's adherence to the so-called One China policy should not be above the welfare of our OFWs in Taiwan, who stand to lose their jobs and their only source of income." The sudden inclusion of Taiwan in the travel ban left hundreds of passengers stranded in airports. OFWs, authorities said, are not exempted from the travel ban.