The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is stepping up to prevent child trafficking and other crimes against children, through the release of the Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA) system.
According to DSWD’s Protective Programs Assistant Secretary Ada Colico, the newly launched MTA system will allow only three people to create an account for a child: their parents, legal guardians, and travel companions.
“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,” Colico highlighted.
Moreover, the agency noted that they would require the presence of the children with either the parents, legal guardians, or travel companions during the video conference. Colico mentioned that children or minors were not required to appear during the physical transaction. They only required parents or the SPA to apply and appear during transactions.
Colico also highlighted that part of the stricter guidelines is the agency’s partnership with other government agencies concerned with international travel, anti-trafficking, and child protection.
“Pangatlo, mas mahigpit po ang aming engagement and partnership with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); Bureau of Immigration (BI); Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC); Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); and Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT),” Colico said.
If the application needs further validation, the local social welfare and development officers (LSWDO) will conduct home visitations, apart from the imposed guidelines on the application of the MTA system.
“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.
“Hindi po kami basta-basta nag-a-approve especially may nakita po kaming mga red flag or concern na dapat pa naming i-investigate,” she added.
According to the report by RH 5 Val Gonzales, the DSWD had received over 2,000 applicants under the newly launched MTA system. The DSWD is also coordinating with other agencies like: the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
The issuance of the MTA permit is aimed at minors travelling alone or those accompanied by individuals apart from their parents and/or legal guardians.
