MANILA, Philippines —The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is strengthening its safeguards against human trafficking by issuing travel permits to minors traveling abroad (MTA) and establishing help desks in international airports to ensure their protection.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Ada Colico said on Thursday that help desks are now in place to address the concerns of children traveling overseas either alone or with companions other than their parents.
“So right now, I just want to inform the public that we already have help desks, not only here at the DSWD Central Office, but also in our international airports,” Colico said. “At present, we have them in Davao, Cebu, and Clark, and we are also finalizing those in Metro Manila at NAIA Terminals 1 and 3,” she added.
The travel permits are issued to Filipino children who are traveling without their parents, and serve as a protective measure against trafficking and exploitation. The airport help desks are part of the Department’s broader initiatives to strengthen the MTA processing system.
In February, the DSWD introduced its online MTA system that digitized the entire process—from filing applications to the release of the travel permit.
“You just need to register and submit the necessary documents online, and we will handle the assessment, interview, and release of the permit for the children,” Colico said.
The rollout of help desks in key international airports is also aimed at giving the public better access to correct information about the travel clearance process.
