Offloaded! The deferred departure procedure and its (un)intended effects to cross-border mobility at the Philippine border

Abstract

The Philippines is one of the top labor migrants sending countries in the world and has developed robust labor migration policy and procedures that has promoted the orderly migration for Filipino migrant workers. Despite this, issues and concerns were raised by Filipino migrants and travelers alike. The implementation of the Trafficking-in-Persons Act developed stricter guidelines for the departure formalities of Filipinos which at times have impeded their right to travel and leave the country. These individuals are sometimes deferred their departure from their outbound flights because of possible illegal recruitment, potential trafficking victims and with doubtful purposes of travel. This analysis, based on data from fieldwork with border agents in the Philippines and documents related to this, analyzes the impact surrounding the implementation of strict emigration procedures at Philippine border control points. Examining the data surrounding emigration regulations, it was discovered that overlapping administrative and bureaucratic procedures externalized at the border is negatively affecting the cross-border mobility of Filipinos at the Philippines border. Not only does it foster additional administrative, bureaucratic and financial burdens to would-be Filipino migrants, but it also creates conditions that would foster collusion at the border in the form of border corruption.