Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Chairman and Resident Representative Silvestre Bello III assured that the situation in Taiwan is normal and allayed fears about the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there amid tensions with neighboring China. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office) In a media forum held in Quezon City, Bello said that the Philippine government is looking after the welfare and well-being of Filipinos there. He also shared that Taiwan is prepared to protect not only its citizens but foreigners as well in case of an emergency. “So, we would like to assure you, everyone. I’ll take this opportunity to inform you… in Taiwan everything is normal and, if in the remote possibility na magkaroon ng emergency situation, like for example earthquake, mga lindol o even war, preparado po ang Taiwan government not only in protecting their own people but even the Filipinos, especially our workers (that there will be an emergency situation, like for example earthquake or even war, the Taiwan government is prepared not only in protecting their own people but even the Filipinos, especially our workers),” Bello said. The National Police Agency of Taiwan has also made an assurance that Filipinos there would be secured and protected, he added. “I met with the Director General together with the head of the Home Civilian Defense of Taiwan and they assured us na iyong ating mga kababayan ay protektado nila (that they will protect our countrymen),” the official furthered. Taiwan, he said, has 89,000 shelters that can accommodate more than the total population of the island. “Ganoon kapreparado iyong ating mga kasama sa Taiwan and they really treasure our OFWs kasi sila, according to them, are the best in their manufacturing industry (That is how prepared Taiwan is and they really treasure our OFWs because they, according to them, are the best in their manufacturing industry),” Bello added. It is estimated that up to ninety percent of the factories in Taiwan are serviced by Filipino workers. Roughly 160,000 OFWs are in factories while the rest are highly skilled teachers, farmers, and workers in the hospitality industry. “So, huwag po kayong mag-alala (So, don’t worry)… everything is normal, our OFWs there are safe and there is no danger of what you call confrontation between China and Taiwan,” the MECO official said. Cross-strait tensions have worsened between China and Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as a province. Recently, Taipei has begun conducting civil response and emergency drills due to a simulated military strike because of the changes in regional and international situation brought by the Ukraine war.