The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) newest digital platform, the “Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System” (HELPS), will serve as a virtual one-stop shop for the agency’s regulatory services for social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs).
“This initiative is a product of the year-long commitment of the Department. With HELPS, there is no need for our SWDAs to fall in line, they can go online,” Division Chief Anna Maria Alexa Ledesma of the agency’s Standards Bureau said in a mix of English and Filipino.
HELPS will officially launch on February 18 at the SMX Convention Center as part of the DSWD’s 74th anniversary celebration.
Under Republic Act 43734, as amended by Republic Act 10847, the DSWD issues certification for the registration, license to operate, and accreditation (CRLA) of SWDAs, people’s organizations, and other civil society organizations.
“Through the digital application system, the issuance of the CRLA will be streamlined from 90 days to 7 days and cut down the processing steps from 49 to just 12. The documentary requirements were also simplified from 50 to just 11 documents,” Ledesma said.
Ledesma explained that the online platform allows CRLA applicants to seamlessly proceed with the application for a public solicitation permit, which is required for SWDAs desiring to solicit or receive contributions from the public for charitable purposes.
The SWDAs may also lodge their application for Duty-Exempt Importation (DEI) through HELPS, which allows non-government organizations to import goods without paying tax duties.
Ledesma said the agency expects that with the streamlined requirements and process, more SWDAs will be encouraged 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.
“For 2025, now with the help of HELPS, the agency’s target is to accommodate 1,362 SWDAs for licensing and accreditation of 223,” Ledesma said.
She likewise affirmed that its monitoring mechanisms for SWDAs that involve face-to-face visitation will remain, ensuring that there will be no blind spot for non-compliance or unethical management in the operations of registered, licensed, and accredited organizations or agencies.