The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has opened 24/7 help desks for minors traveling abroad (MTA) in the country’s major international airports.

In a statement Monday, Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Protective Programs said the operations of the MTA help desks started last July 29 at the Davao International Airport; followed by the opening of the help desk at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport on July 31; and at the Clark International Airport on Aug. 5.

“The MTA help desk is designed to provide in-person assistance for urgent concerns regarding travel clearance for minors who have been offloaded or prevented from boarding their flights due to documentary problems,” Colico said.

A travel clearance is a requirement for individuals below 18 years old traveling outside the Philippines who are not accompanied by any of their parents or persons having parental responsibility or legal custody over the child.

Colico reiterated the significance of securing a travel clearance for minors as part of the government’s campaign to prevent child trafficking.

“We continue to remind parents or guardians to properly secure travel clearance for children traveling outside the country ahead of time. This document is vital to ensure the safety of Filipino kids who are visiting relatives abroad, or studying or attending competitions overseas,” she said.

The issuance of travel clearances for children is specified under the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, and the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.

The MTA system is a priority in the DSWD’s digitalization roadmap, aiming to reduce processing times and eliminate the need for applicants to line up at the DSWD offices to secure manual travel clearance.

The processing of MTA clearance can be applied via the MTA Online System at https://mta.dswd.gov.ph/ or via the eGov PH mobile application. (PNA)