QUEZON CITY, (PIA) –The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) under the Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the updated guidelines concerning Filipino travelers bound for international destinations aimed at preventing cases of human trafficking.
Scheduled to take effect on September 3, 2023, the DOJ assures citizens that the 2023 Revised IACAT Guidelines on Departure Formalities for Filipino Passengers Traveling Abroad will uphold the constitutional right to travel.
The revised guidelines mandate that self-financed travelers furnish supplementary documents, including a confirmed return or roundtrip ticket, evidence of hotel reservation or lodging arrangements, proof of financial capability or income source, and verification of employment, in addition to the customary travel prerequisites
For individuals undertaking journeys sponsored by relatives or non-relatives, obtaining a duly notarized affidavit of support and guarantee from a Philippine Embassy, Consulate, or Honorary Consulate is obligatory.
Meanwhile, first-time overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) must acquire an OFW clearance from the Department of Migrant Workers, as reflected in the agency’s Border Control Information System.
Unaccompanied minors must present a travel clearance certificate from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Travelers accompanied by minors must provide a certificate of exemption issued by the DSWD in cases where parents are unmarried, the accompanying adult is a legal guardian, biological father with sole parental authority, or a custodian over minors traveling with adoptive parents.
The guidelines also delineate circumstances under which immigration officers can postpone a passenger’s departure. These encompass: refusal to undergo secondary inspection; suspicion surrounding the purpose of travel; inconsistencies or inadequacies in travel or supporting documents; concealment or distortion of pertinent travel information; presentation of fraudulent, manipulated, or falsified travel or supporting documents; non-compliance with earlier deferred-departure prerequisites; or suspicions of potential trafficking or illegal recruitment.
The IACAT underscores that secondary inspections should conclude within 15 minutes, unless exceptional circumstances necessitate a lengthier scrutiny.
The 15-minute timeframe will commence at the initiation of the interview conducted by the secondary inspection officer.
The IACAT expresses the significance of adhering to these guidelines, not merely as administrative procedures but as an embodiment of their commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of fellow Filipinos.
In the event of human trafficking, the IACAT provided contact information for reporting incidents: “Report Human Trafficking at 1343 Actionline if within Metro Manila or (02) 1343 if outside Metro Manila.” (pia-ncr)
