By Junex Doronio

MANILA — In its bid to protect Filipino children from child trafficking, abuse, and exploitation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reiterated the necessity to secure a travel clearance for children 17 years old and below who are traveling abroad alone or without their parents.

This was stressed by a chief social worker at a DSWD Media Forum on Thursday (01 August 2024).

“Yung mga nagbabalak po magbyahe at kumuha ng travel clearance, pumunta po kayo sa DSWD Field Offices natin kung saan po nakatira ‘yung bata para doon po mag-apply ng kanilang travel clearance,” Program Management Bureau (PMB) Officer-in-Charge Division Chief for Sectoral Programs Irish Opeña told reporters at the forum held at the DSWD Central Office’s New Press Center in Quezon City.

She explained that those who want to secure a travel clearance for minors traveling abroad must have the following requirements: a duly accomplished application form a birth certificate of minor issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (Original and Photocopy). If it is a delayed birth registration, include a baptismal certificate of minor or immunization record or school records/Form 137.

As appropriate, PSA-issued Marriage Certificate of the parents if legitimate child (Original and Photocopy); if unmarried parents, PSA issued Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) of the mother issued by Philippine Statistics Authority (Original and Photocopy); Certificate of No Marriage from the Local Civil Registry if fictitious marriage are also among the documents being asked.

In the case of a deceased parent, PSA issued Death Certificate (Original and Photocopy) should be submitted.

Another important document needed is a notarized Affidavit of Consent signed by both parents or the person exercising parental authority or legal custody over the minor, whichever is applicable, permitting the minor to travel to a foreign country indicating the specific destination, purpose of travel, inclusive date of travel, the accompanying person and its relation to the minor.

Identification documents such as valid IDs of parents with specimen signatures; if parents are working abroad, a copy of their valid passport and visa; if a seafarer, a copy of the seafarer’s book should also be provided.

ia/mnm