The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will soon launch an online system that will streamline the process of application and issuance of travel clearance for minors traveling abroad (MTA).
Social Welfare Officer (SWO) IV Cheryl Mainar of the DSWD’s Program Management Bureau (PMB) told reporters that applicants no longer need to submit the required documents physically to any agency office nationwide.
SWO Mainar emphasized that applicants “can apply at the comfort of your home.”
“Yung dati ay manual processing, meaning you have to go to DSWD offices to apply for a travel clearance. Wala na silang pupuntahan na opisina ngayon. Sa bahay na lang nila as long as mayroon silang internet connection,” SWO Mainar said at the DSWD Thursday Media Forum on February 13 at the Central Office’s New Press Center in Quezon City.
A travel clearance is a document issued by the DSWD to minors or individuals below 18 years old travelling outside the Philippines who are unaccompanied by any of the parents or persons having parental responsibility or legal custody over the child.
The processing time for applications with complete verified and authentic documents will be 1-3 days in the new MTA system, according to the PMB
“Ngayon po pwede na nilang makuha within the day and maximum na ang three days,” SWO Mainar told reporters.
When asked who are required to seek for a travel clearance, SWO Mainar said any Filipino minor using Philippine Passport who is traveling alone outside the Philippines; traveling with prospective adoptive parent/s for intercountry adoption; and traveling with a person other than his/her parent/s, legal guardian, or person exercising parental authority/legal custody over him/her needs to seek for a clearance from DSWD.
A Filipino minor who is illegitimate and is traveling with his/her biological father; and a minor below 13 years old but will be accompanied by a sibling or a relative within the 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity who is over 15 years old and whose purpose for travel is to permanently join the parent/s abroad also needs to secure a travel clearance.
The PMB social welfare officer also discussed cases in which a minor will be exempted from securing a travel clearance.
“A minor accompanied by: either or both of the minor’s parents, if the minor is legitimate; biological mother, if the minor is illegitimate; father who has been granted sole parental authority or custody by the proper court, if the minor is illegitimate; and legal guardian is exempted,” SWO Mainar said.
The MTA system will be launched on February 18 at the SMX Convention Center as part of the DSWD’s 74th anniversary celebration.
The operationalization of the MTA system is anchored on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s socio-economic agenda on the digitalization of government processes and operations.
Complete information on the application process and documentary requirements can be found in the DSWD Memorandum Circular 22, series of 2024 (https://old.dswd.gov.ph/issuances/MCs/MC_2024-022.pdf). (YADP)
Tagalog Version
Bagong online system ng DSWD, magpapabilis sa proseso ng travel permit sa mge menor de edad na byaheng abroad
Nakatakdang ilunsad ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang bagong online system nito na magpapabilis sa proseso ng aplikasyon at issuance para sa travel clearance for minors traveling abroad (MTA).
Sa ginanap na Thursday Media Forum sa New Press Center ng DSWD, sinabi ni Social Welfare Officer (SWO) IV Cheryl Mainar ng DSWD Program Management Bureau (PMB), hindi na kinakailangan pa aniyang magsumite ng mga kailangang dokumento ang mga aplikante dahil mabilis na itong magagawa online.
“Yung dati ay manual processing, meaning you have to go to DSWD offices to apply for a travel clearance. Wala na silang pupuntahan na opisina ngayon. Sa bahay na lang nila as long as mayroon silang internet connection,”sabi ni SWO Mainar.
Ang travel clearance ay isang dokumento na ibinibigay ng DSWD sa mga menor de edad na lalabas ng bansa at walang kasamang magulang o yung may parental responsibility o legal custody sa bata.
Sabi pa ng opisyal, ang processing time para sa aplikasyon na may complete verified at authentic documents ay tatagal ng isa hanggang tatlong araw batay sa bagong MTA system.
“Ngayon po pwede na nilang makuha within the day and maximum na ang three days,” sabi ni SWO Mainar.
Binigyang diin ni SWO Mainar na ang mga batang Pilipino na gumagamit ng Philippine Passport at maga-abroad o mag-travel kasama ang prospective adoptive parent/s para sa intercountry adoption; traveling with a person other than his/her parent/s, legal guardian, o person exercising parental authority/legal custody over him/her ay kinakailangang kumuha ng clearance mula sa DSWD.
“A minor accompanied by: either or both of the minor’s parents, if the minor is legitimate; biological mother, if the minor is illegitimate; father who has been granted sole parental authority or custody by the proper court, if the minor is illegitimate; and legal guardian is exempted,” dagdag pa ni SWO Mainar .
Ang MTA system ay nakatakdang ilunsad sa February 18 sa SMX Convention Center, bilang parte ng 74th anniversary celebration ng DSWD.
Para sa kumpletong impormasyon hinggil sa application process at documentary requirements maaari itong mabasa sa DSWD Memorandum Circular 22, series of 2024 (https://old.dswd.gov.ph/issuances/MCs/MC_2024-022.pdf).# (MVC)
