The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) new online system dubbed ‘Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System’ or HELPS has received 218 requests for verification and creation of HELPS account since its official launch last February 18.
Director Megan Therese Manahan of the Standards Bureau (SB) announced this during the DSWD’s Thursday Media Forum on February 27, citing that the agency is ready to process more requests as part of the agency’s efforts to ease access to its regulatory services.
“Maganda po siyang statistic kasi nag-launch lang po tayo ng February 18… it has been just more than a week. It’s good feedback on our end,” Director Manahan told reporters at the forum held at the DSWD’s New Press Center in Quezon City.
Officially launched during the agency’s 74th anniversary celebration, the HELPS serves as a virtual one-stop-shop for all of DSWD’s regulatory services.
These services range from the processing and issuance of certificates for registration, license to operate, and accreditation (CRLA) of social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs), public solicitation permit, and Duty-Exempt Importation (DEI).
Of the 253 applications processed via the platform, majority or 218 were processed by SWDAs with existing CRLA.
Director Manahan said these SWDAs are required to have their existing license validated so they can open an account in HELPS and apply for other permits available in the portal, such as the public solicitation permit and DEI.
“Ito yung mga SWDAs na nagta-try magverify ng existing nilang RLA and yung nagta-try na mag-create ng account and i-access ang mga services natin,” Director Manahan pointed out.
A total of 21 SWDAs have already turned in their applications for CRLA through the portal. They are either renewing their licenses or first-time applicants.
“For CLRA applications, the SWDAS are expected to receive their certification within 7 days of processing for registration and license to operate and another 7 days for accreditation if their application is assessed as compliant and complete. This is certainly an upgrade from our manual application that used to take 90 days to process,” Director Manahan explained to reporters.
Under Republic Act 43734, as amended by RA 10847, the DSWD issues a CRLA of SWDAs, people’s organizations (POs), and other civil society organizations (CSOs).
Director Manahan told reporters that in just less than 2 days, the agency has successfully issued a permit to a foundation who was the first to apply for a public solicitation permit through the portal.
This was the Visions of Hope Foundation which applied via the online system on February 19 at 5:54pm and received their approved permit by February 21 at 2:52pm.
“Before, it used to be 20 days for the regular permit, ngayon 7 days na lang. And based on our experience for the last week, kaya naman po ang 7 working days, as in very proud to say that we issued it within 2 days,” Director Manahan said.
While it has only been over a week since the portal has been officially opened for its intended clients, Director Manahan said the agency is pleased with the positive feedback they are receiving from end-users.
“We got really good feedback from the SWDAs na ‘ay napakadali naman, finally, ina-acknowledge na yung ginagawa ng SWDAs for the public,’ kasi at the end of the day, partners naman natin sila,” Director Manahan said.
In his message during the launching of HELPS, Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized the creation of the DSWD HELPS is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to digitalize significant services of the Department and create a welcoming environment in engaging the stakeholders. (LSJ)