Philippines launches online travel permits for minors

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Philippines has launched an online system for processing travel permits for minors. This replaces the previous manual method, which allowed travel agencies to represent applicants, raising concerns about child trafficking. Under the new system, minors and their parents or guardians must schedule a videoconference with the DSWD for verification. This change aims to ensure consent for travel and improve security for minors traveling abroad. The online process reduces the application steps from 11 to seven and is expected to take one to three days for processing. Since its launch in mid-February, the DSWD has received about 1,749 applications.