Rent-free ecozones pushed

"The Philippines want Taiwan to relax its immigration rules under the Subic-Clark-Kaoshiung economic corridor"

Taiwan will ask the Philippines to bring down rental costs in economic zones and harmonize policies.

Sheng Bao Tseng, the director general of Taiwan’s Export Processing Zone Administration, said the agency will seek the adoption of its land-rent policies so that more Taiwanese investors could locate in the Philippines.

Taiwanese investors are seeking a cut in income taxes and the threshing out of labor issues, including permits, working conditions and the duration of Filipino workers in Taiwan.

For its part, the Philippines want Taiwan to relax its immigration rules under the Subic-Clark-Kaoshiung economic corridor, an agreement for which was signed in September.

Under the current policy, Filipino workers who undergo training in Taiwan no longer follow strict immigration procedures but legitimate workers are required to follow certain conditions. They could stay in Taiwan for three years on valid working visas and seek three-year extensions. Angelo Samonte, The Manila Times