THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced the full digitalization of its major programs and services in its 74th year to expedite the processing and delivery of donations for calamity relief and the issuance of licenses and permits.
President Marcos Jr. and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian lead the launch today, Tuesday, at the Mall of Asia of the Kaagapay Donations Portal, the Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS) and the Minors Travelling Abroad (MTA) along with the “Pamilya sa Bagong Pilipinas.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the Kaagapay Donations Portal is a website that provides an online platform for donors to send their cash donations either to the DSWD for disaster relief operations and/or for in-kind and cash donations to DSWD centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs).
This aims to enhance both operational efficiency and overall donor experience.
Dumlao said the portal also links donations to DSWD-registered and licensed social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs), as well as to local government units (LGUs) engaged in humanitarian response during times of disasters and emergencies.
“The Kaagapay Donations Portal integrates advanced functionalities that ensure real-time donations facilitation. Through the portal, donors will have the option to choose if they want to donate through online payment gateways or via logistics partners to personally deliver their in-kind donations to our CRCFs,” she said.
DSWD Standards Bureau (SB) Division Chief Anna Maria Alexa Ledesma said “HELPS” is a virtual one-stop-shop for the agency’s regulatory services for social welfare and development agencies. This is expected to streamline the agency’s procedures for the issuance of permits, licenses and other documentation frontline services for SWDA.
The MTA program aims to hasten the issuance of travel permits for unaccompanied as well as ensure their safety and welfare during travels.
“This initiative (HELPS) is a product of the year-long commitment of the Department. Here at HELPS, there is no need for our SWDAs to fall in line, they can go online,” Ledesma said.
She said that through HELPS, the issuance of certification for the registration, license to operate, and accreditation (CRLA) is reduced from 90 days to seven days, while the processing steps are reduced from 49 to 12 and the documentary requirements down from 11 to 50.
She added that the operationalization of HELPS is anchored on the President’s socio-economic agenda on the digitalization of government systems and processes.
Under Republic Act (RA) No. 43734, as amended by RA No. 10847, the DSWD issues certification for the registration, license to operate, and accreditation (CRLA) of SWDAs, peoples organizations (POs), and other civil society organizations (CSOs).
Ledesma said through HELPS, CRLA applicants may apply for a public solicitation permit — a requirement for soliciting or receiving contributions — from the public for charitable purposes while SWDAs may submit their application for Duty-Exempt Importation (DEI).
Ledesma said the agency expects that with the streamlined requirements and process, more SWDAs will encourage people to avail of the agency’s regulatory services and contribute to ensuring that standards are upheld above board by organizations engaged in the delivery of social welfare programs.
Dumlao said DSWD is also launching the compendium on the “Pamilya sa Bagong Pilipinas” which aims to introduce and promote to Filipinos a “new rights-based, family-oriented, and inclusive development model for Filipino families.”
“The DSWD is developing a new family welfare model called the Pamilya sa Bagong Pilipinas which features the various transitions of family life across different life stages. Its model integrates economic, social, and cultural support to help Filipino families grow and thrive while meeting their diverse needs and goals. This is in line with the Marcos administration’s priority to enhance the well-being and strengthen the resilience of Filipino families,” she said.
The chapters of the compendium feature three components, namely: the Bagong Pamilyang Pilipino; Bumabangon sa Gitna ng mga Hamon; and, Maunlad at Matatag na Pamilya.
The Bagong Pamilyang Pilipino component highlights interventions at the beginning of family formation, including the programs and services available at the early stages of marriage or the union of couples.
The Bumabangon sa Gitna ng mga Hamon, on the other hand, refers to the social protection programs and services that aim to assist families to overcome crises that they may encounter as well as recognize the need for diverse family structures such as single-parent families, same-sex parent families, blended families, and adoptive or foster families.
The Maunlad at Matatag na Pamilya component is tailored to encourage the growth of Filipino families through programs and services for economic empowerment such as skills training initiatives, employment assistance, and financial literacy programs so that families will be able to manage their resources well.
“The Pamilya sa Bagong Pilipinas model is proposed to be the government’s main strategy for social change and empowerment that will help reduce the vulnerability of Filipino families by helping them access social protection programs and the setting up of viable community structures,” Dumlao said.
The DSWD would also officially launch the Angel Pets, the Apo Ko program, the First 1,000 Days of Life grants (F1KD), the Sustainable Livelihood Program’s (SLP) Electronic Vehicle for Persons with Disabilities, and hold a week-long Bazaar at its Central Office which that features a variety of food delights, ready-to-wear items, hand-made products, accessories, among others from small businesses and food chains.
