DSWD to impose stricter processes for issuance of travel permits for minors

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will be implementing stricter rules on the issuance of travel permits for minors traveling abroad.

According to a statement on Saturday, the Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA) system is intended to prevent child trafficking and other crimes against children by limiting authorized individuals and strict enforcement of application processes.

The process also includes home visitations conducted by local social welfare and development officers (LSWDO) if needed.

“This time, mas strict po kami sa paggawa ng account [sa system]. (This time, we are stricter with creating accounts [within the system]) We only allow three persons to create an account—parents, legal guardians, and travel companions,” said Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Protective Programs.

“Pangalawa, sinisigurado po namin na present ang parents, legal guardians, travel companion, at yung bata sa video conferencing. Before kasi, children or minors don’t need to appear sa physical na transaction. Dati parents lang o yung may SPA lang, pwede na mag-apply,” she added.

(Second, we are ensuring that the parents, legal guardians, travel companion, and the child are present in video conferencing. Before, children or minors didn't need to appear in the physical transaction. Before, only parents or SPA were needed to apply.)

The stricter guidelines are being enforced in line with other government agencies concerned with international travel and child welfare.

“We have measures naman po kasi if we see na may inconsistencies sa data, may red flag, we make sure that we validate it further. Ang ginagawa po namin dyan, we are referring to our LSWDO and we have them visited talaga sila sa bahay… Hindi po kami basta-basta nag-a-approve especially may nakita po kaming mga red flag or concern na dapat pa naming i-investigate,” Colico said.

(We have measures if we see inconsistencies in the data or red flags, we make sure that we validate it further. What we are doing there is that we are referring to our LSWDO and we have visited them in their homes… We don’t just approve, especially if we see red flags or concerns that we need to investigate.)

As of Saturday, the online MTA system is processing 2,000 applications with eight disapprovals due to inconsistencies. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News