Manila: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Wednesday assured that the new online system for the application for travel clearance of minors travelling abroad is equipped with enhanced measures to safeguard children from potential risks of trafficking.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian emphasized that the online portal aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directives to combat human trafficking and streamline government processes. The primary goal of this new system for minors travelling abroad (MTA) is to simplify the process for parents and children while addressing the shortcomings of the previous manual procedure.

A travel clearance is mandated by the DSWD for minors or individuals under 18 years old who are traveling outside the Philippines without being accompanied by their parents or legal guardians. Gatchalian highlighted that the new digital system for MTA application significantly improves the old process, where social workers had limited interaction with concerned parties.

"In the past, we protected minors but did not interact with them directly. The previous process allowed for the issuance of a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) without seeing the child, often because they were in school," Gatchalian noted.

The DSWD chief explained that the new system requires an online interview involving the parents, child or children, and the accompanying adult, if applicable. This ensures direct interaction with social workers. "With the new system, there is an online interview process. Parents can even choose an evening schedule so that the child is present, along with the teacher or adult accompanying the child on the trip," he added.

Moreover, the portal will only accept QR-coded or notarized documents to authenticate the legitimacy of submissions. Gatchalian also mentioned a recent data sharing agreement with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to enhance inter-agency coordination and safety measures.

"With these new digital mechanisms in place, the public is assured of a better experience that strengthens the government's campaign against human trafficking," he concluded.