Anti-trafficking council OKs revised departure guidelines for outbound Filipinos

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) on Tuesday approved revised departure guidelines for Filipinos traveling outside the country.

The 2023 Revised IACAT Guidelines on Departure Formalities for Internationally-Bound Filipino Passengers was passed to address the “emergent trends in human trafficking” and not to hamper Filipinos’ right to travel, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.

Under the revised guidelines, all Filipino outbound travelers will undergo immigration inspection and will be asked to present basic travel documents including a valid passport, boarding pass, appropriate visa whenever required, and confirmed return or roundtrip ticket, when necessary.

Immigration officers are also mandated to interview the passenger about their purpose for travel and ask for relevant clarifying questions and additional supporting documents.

Passengers may be deferred for departure if they present fraudulent, falsified, or tampered travel or supporting documents; or refuse to undergo primary inspection. They may also be referred to secondary inspection.

Travelers may also be asked for relevant supporting documents based on their categories: tourists, overseas Filipino workers, minors, and others.

“Hindi naman sa naghihigpit ang IACAT pero ang mandato ng IACAT ay protektahan ang mga kababayan natin na malamang magiging victim ng human trafficking,” DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano told reporters.

(We’re not trying to make traveling harder but the IACAT’s mandate is to protect Filipinos from human trafficking.)

“For us, kailangan muna natin i-screen dito pa lang sa Pilipinas [we need to already screen them here]. This is not a curtailment of the right to travel but an enforcement of a policy that we believe fits our culture. Dito pa lang pinoprotektahan na natin ang mga kababayan natin [Even from this point we will already be protecting our fellow Filipinos],” he added.

Sponsors

Meanwhile, those who will be traveling on sponsored trips are required to present an original Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-issued birth certificate or marriage certificate if their sponsor abroad is a relative with the first civil degree, Saleema Refran reported on “24 Oras.”

They should also present a confirmed return or roundtrip ticket; and copies of their sponsor’s valid passport, work visa or permit, and Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), E-receipt, or OFW Clearance, for OFW sponsors.

If the sponsor is a relative up to the fourth civil degree, then the traveler should present an original affidavit of support and guarantee; a confirmed return or roundtrip ticket; and an original PSA-issued birth certificate or marriage certificate showing the exact relationship between the passenger and the sponsor.

But if the sponsor is not a relative, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the passenger will be required to present other documents.

“They may show proof po of their relationship that could be photos, that could be any document po. Tinitignan din po who the sponsor is, hindi lang 'yung relationship nila but who the sponsor is upang malaman of this a legal person and kung nagsponsor na ba siya ibang tao before?” said BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval.

(We will look at who the sponsor is; not just their relationship to the traveler, but if they are a legal person and if they have sponsored other people before.)

“’Yung address and contact information nung sponsor na 'yun [We will also need the sponsor's address and contact information] for the Philippine government to be able to locate should issues arise,” she said.

The revised guidelines will be implemented starting the first week of September.

Long lines, long waits

Earlier this year, a traveler missed her flight after a lengthy interview process at the immigration counter, including a request to see her yearbook which she did not bring with her.

Clavano said the screening process should not take long.

“It will only take a matter of 45 seconds to scan and to validate all the documents. The process will still be limited to 45 seconds pero at least alam na po ng mga kababayan natin kung anong dadalhin nila,” he said.

Sandoval also reiterated that only 0.6% of passengers have been deferred from travel. She also said the BI is eyeing to impose “green lanes” at the immigration counters to expedite the processing of travelers and avoid long lines at the airport.

“With regards sa lines sa airports, that have been addressed na rin. We’re thankful for the MIAA, they have expanded our immigration areas and we will continue to expand until the end of the year,” Sandoval said.

“Isa sa priority projects ni Commissioner Tansingco is to create green lanes. [These] will be utilized by frequent travelers, OFWs, ICR card holders that would hasten process. It’s easier for them to undergo primary inspection. The long-term plan of the BI is to add more e-gates both at the arrival and departure areas para mas mapabilis ang byahe ng mga kababayan natin even the tourists,” she added.

(One of the priority projects of BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco is to create green lanes. [These] will be utilized by frequent travelers, OFWs, and ICR card holders which would hasten the process. It’s easier for them to undergo primary inspection. The long-term plan of the BI is to add more e-gates both at the arrival and departure areas to expedite the process.)

Member agencies of the IACAT include the DOJ, BI, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, and the Department of Foreign Affairs. — BM, GMA Integrated News