Social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs) are now experiencing a faster and more convenient way of securing public solicitation permits with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) new digital platform—the Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS).
“Yung outcome na gusto namin with DSWD HELPS ay mapasaya ang ating mga stakeholders at mas mapadali ang pagproseso ng kanilang applications through the portal. Hindi na nila kailangan na pumunta pa sa iba’t ibang opisina dahil kaya na ma-access online at nandoon na lahat ng regulatory services na kailangan nila,” Director Megan Therese Manahan of the DSWD’s Standards Bureau said on Friday (April 11).
Director Manahan said SWDAs that have used HELPS have conveyed their positive experiences navigating the portal.
The Visions of Hope Foundation (VOHF), the first organization to be granted a public solicitation permit, submitted their application through the online system on February 19 at 5:54 PM and received their approval by 2:52 PM on February 21, way ahead of the target 7-day processing.
“The platform is very easy to navigate and has a user-friendly interface that is suitable for users who may not be highly tech-savvy. We were also able to track the progress of our public solicitation permit application in real time,” Sharmaine Ann Salvador from the VOHF said as she shared her experience using the HELPS.
The VOHF representative added: “The great thing is that the documentary requirements have been significantly reduced.”
Previously in the manual process, applicants for a regular public solicitation permit would have to physically submit 20 documents to the DSWD offices and wait for up to 20 days before they can get the permit.
Now, the clients can easily lodge their application online via the HELPS and submit from 1 to 11 important documents and receive it after a maximum of 7 days.
Another SWDA, Oasi Di Gioia Per Bambine, commended the agency for giving orientation and technical assistance in using the newly-launched HELPS.
“In navigating the system, since it was our first time to use it, so far it was easy since we attended the online orientation and it was clearly stated the process of how to register. We are also guided by our assessor every now then if we have inquiries,” a representative of Oasi Di Gioia Per Bambine said.
Other organizations echoed similar sentiments, lauding the agency for digitalizing and streamlining the application process.
Several groups including Seven Sisters of Servants of Mary Elderly Home Inc.; Ayala Foundation, Inc.; Rizal’s New Jerusalem Foundation Inc.; Bountiful Children’s Foundation – Philippines Inc.; Bakhita Canossa Foundation Inc.; Childhope Philippines Foundation, Inc.; My Refuge House Ministry, Inc.; 101 Foundation Inc. (operating under the name CharityPhilippines.org); and Insular Foundation, Inc. have received their permits through HELPS since its launching last February 18.
With the rollout of the HELPS portal, Director Manahan said SWDAs can now apply for solicitation permits entirely online and, once approved, begin accepting donations seamlessly through the Kaagapay Donations Portal.
“This breakthrough aims to enable organizations to scale up their outreach efforts and fundraising activities,” the SB director said.
The Kaagapay Donations Portal is designed to create a seamless and digitalized transaction experience between the donors, DSWD, SWDAs, and local government units (LGUs).
The donations portal accepts both in-kind and cash donations, integrated with secure electronic transactions through electronic money issuers such as Linkbiz, GCash, and Maya.
To date, 16 public solicitation permits have been issued and included in the Kaagapay Donations Portal.
Director Manahan said the processing of public solicitation permits is just one of the regulatory services available through HELPS.
“The platform also caters to the application process for registration, licensing, and accreditation (RLA) of SWDAs, as well as the issuance of certifications for duty-exempt importation (DEI) of donated goods,” Director Mahanan pointed out. (YADP)