SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian reiterated over the weekend that the Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA) System not only helps hasten issuance of travel permits for minors but also helps fight child trafficking.
In a social media post yesterday, the DSWD, quoting Gatchalian, said the MTA system includes an online video conferencing with the parents or guardians of the traveling minor, the companion, and the child.
“This is to enable the agency to have a record as well as verify their information,” Gatchalian said, adding that “previously, the process was done manually and the agency did not see the individuals involved as they only submitted a special power of attorney.”
The online interview also ensures that the minor for whom an MTA permit is being applied for is the person as the one in the photos submitted, and that the parents or legal guardians are aware that the minor is due to travel with a companion they have authorized.
After the MTA was launched on February 18, the DSWD received a total of 1,773 applications for travel permits for minors last February.
Details for March were unavailable when the statement was posted on Facebook, but the DSWD said it receives at least 127 online applications per day.
The MTA had cut down the 11 manual steps to seven and required the presence of minors during online interviews.
DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 22, Series of 2024 or the Guidelines in the Implementation of the Digitized Travel Clearance for Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA), stated that a minor who is travelling with a parent or legal guardian does not need to apply for a permit.
A minor traveling with the adoptive parents with an adoption decree and certificate of finality is also not required to apply for a travel clearance.
