The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) appeals to clients in need of travel clearance for minors traveling abroad (MTA) to apply for this document early, particularly now that the agency is seeing a surge in volume of requests amid the school break.
Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Protective Programs said requesting a travel permit for minors going out of the country 30 days before their departure is ideal to avoid any delay or inconvenience.
“Amin pong pinapaalam sa publiko na ngayon po ay peak season at marami pong nag-aaply sa ngayon kaya kailangan po namin ng mas maagang aplikasyon siguro mga 30 days before their travel dapat ay nag-apply na po sila sa aming platform para masiguro rin po na magkaroon po ng smoother process,” Asst. Secretary Ada Colico said in an interview aired over Bombo Radyo on Thursday (April 24).
As part of the government’s preventive measures against child-trafficking, a travel clearance is issued by the DSWD to minors or individuals below 18 years old traveling outside the Philippines who are unaccompanied by any of the biological parents or persons having parental responsibility or legal custody over the child.
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.
Asst. Secretary Colico told Bombo Radyo that applying for these documents have been simplified since the launch of the MTA online portal last February 18. Through this system, applicants are allowed to lodge their application anytime and anywhere, as long as they have their internet or gadgets with them.
The DSWD official, however, noted that the client’s timely application is critical, as the clients’ cooperation remains key to a smooth transaction.
“Kapag po kasi wala silang clearance, mao-offload po sila ng ating Bureau of Immigration (BI) kasi hinahanap po ito as a requirement sa ating pag-travel abroad. Para maiwasan na po yung ating off-loading kailangan po talaga nilang mag-secure ng clearance prior their travel,” Asst. Secretary Colico pointed out.
The online MTA system is among the DSWD’s latest digitalization program which was a brainchild of Secretary Rex Gatchalian in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s vision of digitalizing 90 percent of government agencies for faster delivery of services to the public.
Complete information on the application process and documentary requirements can be found in the DSWD Memorandum Circular 22, series of 2024 (https://www.dswd.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MC_2024-022.pdf)