Teen chess player misses flight due to DSWD delay

Teenage chess player Ruelle Canino sought government assistance to obtain her Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clearance for a trip to Mongolia.

Canino missed her morning flight due to delays in receiving the required document, which is necessary for minors traveling abroad, leaving the rest of the Philippine chess team to depart without her ahead of the Asian Zonals starting on Wednesday.

The delay was caused by the recent digitization of DSWD's system, preventing Canino from boarding her flight at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

Canino remains hopeful that she will be able to join the competition later while her coach Janelle Mae Frayna expressed frustration with the delays caused by the new digital process.

The Philippine team, including Grandmaster Daniel Quizon and Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna, left without Canino for the Asian Zonals, which determines slots for the World Cup.