The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) issues either a travel clearance or a certificate of exemption for minors traveling abroad through the agency’s Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA) online system, a senior DSWD official said on Wednesday (March 19).
“Actually, sa ating online platform ay nagbibigay tayo ng dalawang permit. Ito nga yung travel clearance at certificate of exemption,” Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Protective Programs under the Operations Group said in an interview over Radyo Pilipinas Wednesday morning.
Asst. Secretary Colico explained that travel clearance is needed for children 14 years old and above who are traveling alone and minors traveling with companions other than their parents or legal guardians.
“Ang travel clearance po ay kailangan para sa bata na nagta-travel alone, 14 years old pataas. Hindi po pinapayagan mag-travel mag-isa ang 13 years old and below. Kapag nagkataon po naman na ang magulang ay hindi makakasama sa travel ng bata, at minor ito, pwede naman po na other person or relatives ang kasama, pero kailangan yun ng travel clearance,” Asst. Secretary Colico told Radyo Pilipinas.
The DSWD also issues certificates of exemption for special cases such as children traveling with an unmarried parent and orphaned children who will travel with their legal guardians, according to the Protective Programs head.
“Kapag unmarried ang parents or di kasal ang magulang ng bata pero ang custody ay nasa biological father, kailangan natin ng certificate of exemption doon. O kaya kapag orphaned ang bata at ang custody ng bata ay nasa lolo, dahil sa succession po sa Family Code, ang custody ay nasa mga grandparents, or kung sino ang may legal custody,” Asst. Secretary Colico pointed out.
In these cases, legal documents showing custody or guardianship of the child are needed for the application of the certificate of exemption.
There are also instances when there is no need to apply for a travel clearance or an exemption for a minor travelling outside the country.
Asst. Secretary Colico said: “Kapag travelling ang minor together with married parents. Kapag mother ang kasama, if travelling with the child, at ikaw ang legitimate biological mother, pinapayagan po at hindi na kailangan ng travel clearance or exemption. Makikita naman po iyon sa passport na ipe-present at ang mag-check na ay ‘yong sa ating Bureau of Immigration (BI).”
Asst. Secretary Colico said the DSWD already has established a tight coordination with the BI regarding the departure protocols for minors traveling abroad as an added preventive measure against child trafficking and other forms of abuse.
Those who are planning to apply for either the travel clearance or certificate of exemption can expect a more efficient processing of their application with the DSWD’s recently launched online system.
As the Department phased out the manual mode of application, the MTA online system has streamlined the processing of application from 11 steps to just 7 steps with all documentary requirements to be scanned and uploaded.
Asst. Secretary Colico said the transition to the online system allows the public to apply and schedule interviews in their own time and in the comforts of their homes.
The DSWD official, however, urged applicants to submit their applications two weeks prior to the date of travel.
The online platform can be accessed at https://mta.dswd.gov.ph. (GDVF)