THE CITY Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) reminded parents to first secure a travel permit for minors aged 15 years old and below who are traveling alone.
“Katong mga bata nga mag-travel alone or unaccompanied, kinahanglan nga mo-secure sila og permit to travel,” Glenda Espada, CSWDO’s Quick Response Team for Children’s Concern (QRTCC) center head, said in an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio.
Espada explained that the permit to travel aims to protect the child from abuse and exploitation; prevent child trafficking; ensure that the traveling companion is duly authorized and can look after the welfare of the minor; and ensure that the sponsor can protect and support the needs of the minor while under their custody.
The travel requirement is anchored on the amended Sections 7 and 7(a) of the Davao City Children’s Welfare Code on minors traveling alone and steps to prevent children from traveling alone respectively. The welfare code covers all modes of transportation (air, land, and sea).
Parents and guardians may secure the permit from the CSWDO District Offices, the QRTCC, as well as from the social workers from the Special Office for Children’s Concern (SOCC) who are assigned to the Davao City International Airport.
The requirements needed by both children and their companion for the permit include the child’s birth certificate, parents’ consent with signature and the parent’s ID, and barangay certification for both the minor and the companion indicating where they are from. For minors attending school-related activities outside Davao, a copy of the event invitation is also required.
Meanwhile, Espada stated that minors aged 16–17 may travel without the permit provided that they have their birth certificates and IDs for verification purposes.
