The revised guidelines on departure formalities have been streamlined, and the process has become easier for Filipinos travelling abroad, the Department of Justice (DOJ) assured on Friday, Aug. 25.

DOJ Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV responded to concerns expressed by some quarters that the 2023 Revised Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Guidelines on Departure Formalities for Internationally-Bound Filipino Travelers which will be implemented starting Sept. 3 would make travel more difficult.

During an interview on DZBB, Clavano said the 2023 guidelines were a revision of those issued in 2015 on departure formalities.

“Ang ginawa po natin dinagdagan lang ang mga categories ng mga travelers and mas nilinaw po natin ang proseso (What we did was to add categories for travelers and made the process clearer),” he said.

Clavano explained: “Lahat ng category na hindi vulnerable sa human trafficking mas napadali tuloy kaysa sa 2015 guidelines dahil masyado blanket ang itinuturing sa 2015 guidelines (the process for all categories that are not vulnerable to human trafficking became easier compared to the 2015 guidelines which have blanket rules).”

He noted that those considered to be vulnerable to human trafficking are first time travelers, first time overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and the so-called digital nomads who can work anywhere in the world.

“‘Yung mga vulnerable po sa human trafficking we still impose ‘yung mga dati po nating documents kailangan ipresent (For those vulnerable to human trafficking, we still impose the required documents to be presented),” Clavano said.

Under the 2023 guidelines, he said immigration officers at the primary inspection may refer travelers to secondary inspection if there are doubts on the purpose of travel.

“Doon po sa pangalawang interview na tinatawag natin secondary inspection pwede po hingin ang mga documents na nakasulat sa 2015 guidelines at parehas na parehas po ito doon sa nakalagay na documents sa 2023 guidelines (In the secondary inspection, the documents asked under the 2023 guidelines will be the same as the ones listed in the 2015 guidelines),” he also said.

Citing one of the new procedures that would make it easier to Filipino travelers is that they would no longer be asked to secure clearance from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) if they will be visiting their foreign boyfriends or girlfriends abroad.

He also said that self-funded tourists who are sponsored by their parents only need to present birth certificates to show their relationship.

“Dati po kahit parents ang sponsor n’yo po kailangan magdala ng affidavit of support (Previously, even if your parents are the sponsors of your travel, you have to present an affidavit of support),” he added.