The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has imposed stricter guidelines on the issuance of travel permits to minors through its newly launched Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA) system to help prevent child trafficking and other crimes involving minors.

“Doon po sa ating manual transaction before, pwedeng-pwedeng mag-transact kahit sino basta may special power of attorney (SPA). This time, mas strict po kami sa paggawa ng account sa system. We only allow three persons to create an account—parents, legal guardians, and travel companions,” DSWD Assistant Secretary for Protective Programs Ada Colico said in a news forum on March 15.

(Before, in our manual transactions, anyone could transact as long as they had a special power of attorney. This time, we are stricter in creating accounts in the system. We only allow three people to create an account—parents, legal guardians, and travel companions).

One significant change in the application process is the mandatory video conferencing.

“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 said.

(Second, we make sure that the parents, legal guardians, travel companions, and the child are present during the video conferencing. Before, children or minors didn’t need to appear in person for the application. In the past, only the parents or those with SPA could apply).

The DSWD’s stricter guidelines are also supported by enhanced partnerships with various government agencies involved in international travel, anti-trafficking efforts, and child protection, which include the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, Philippine Statistics Authority, and the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking.

As part of the verification process, local Social Welfare and Development Officers (LSWDO) conduct home visitations if an application raises red flags or requires further validation.

“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,” she said.

(We have measures in place if we see inconsistencies in the data or red flags. We make sure to validate it further. What we do is refer it to our LSWDO, and we have them visit the home for verification).

As of March 15, the DSWD has received more than 2,000 applications through the MTA system. 

However, eight applications have been disapproved due to inconsistencies with the submitted requirements or fraudulent travel purposes.

The DSWD issues the MTA permit for minors traveling alone or with individuals other than their parents or legal guardians.