One month after the launching of the Kaagapay Donations Portal, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already received Php1.4 million from donors for the agency’s disaster response operations and clients of DSWD-managed centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs).
“In a few weeks’ time, may donations na tayong na-receive para sa DSWD at para na rin po sa ating mga foundations, non-government organizations (NGO), at mga non-profit corporations na naka-publish sa ating Kaagapay Donations Portal,” Assistant Secretary Maria Paz Rafael of the Partnerships Building and Resource Mobilization (PBRMO) told reporters at the DSWD Thursday Media Forum on April 3.
The Kaagapay Donations Portal, according to the DSWD official, is designed to provide donors with an efficient and more convenient way to extend their donations to charitable groups or social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs), the agency’s disaster relief operations, as well as the CRCFs.
Asst. Secretary Rafael told reporters that the donors are the ones who identify which organizations they will send their donations to, which will go directly to the recipients and will not pass through the DSWD.
“Donors can go through the Kaagapay Donations Portal at humanap sila ng facility o sektor kung saan sila pwedeng mag-donate. Makikita rin sa portal kung saang rehiyon at ano ba ang wish list nila,” Asst. Secretary Rafael pointed out.
The PBRM assistant secretary said both local and international donations are now being accepted in the newly-launched portal.
“Pwede na rin pong mag-international donations through credit cards. Lahat po ng may JBC, mastercard, at visa card na nasa abroad, pwede na po kayong mag-donate through the Kaagapay Donations Portal,” Asst. Secretary Rafael said.
When asked why the DSWD also accepts donations, Asst. Secretary Rafael explained that the agency only accepts support for its disaster relief operations and for CRCFs—facilities that cater to the needs of marginalized groups, including abandoned, neglected and abused children, elderly individuals, persons with disabilities, women and families in difficult circumstances, and other disadvantaged sectors of society.
“Hindi po kami tumatanggap ng donations para sa ibang programa ng DSWD tulad ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) o Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS). Option lang din po ito para sa donor kung gusto nilang tumulong kapag may sakuna. Ito po ay hindi para sa DSWD kundi para sa mga kababayan natin,” Asst. Secretary Rafael said.
The Kaagapay Donations Portal, which was described by Asst. Secretary Rafael as a system that “builds an environment of sharing and a space for giving”, aims to match or directly connect SWDAs, the DSWD, and local government units (LGUs) with prospective donors. (YADP)