The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is undertaking aggressive steps toward the digitalization of frontline services to make these more accessible, convenient, and time-saving as it would not require time away from work for the clients, an agency official said on Saturday (July 12).
“Kung sila po ay pumipila at naghihintay ng isang araw para po makuha ang serbisyo, iyon po ay tinatawag na may opportunity cost sa ating kliyente. Sila po ay mag-aabsent sa kanilang trabaho, iyong iba po sa kanila arawan ang sweldo. Basically, lost income po yun. So, kung meron po tayong digital service at meron pong kakayahan ang ating mga kliyente para gumamit po ng technology for the service, at their own convenience po magagamit na po nila ang ating DSWD digital service,” Asst. Secretary for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Johannes Paulus Acuna explained during an interview over DZMM’s Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan.
Asst. Secretary Acuna told DZMM that in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s directive for the automation of government frontline services, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian initiated the use of technology in the provision of the Department’s programs and services to ease the burden of the public from lining up in agency offices.
“Transitioning to online platforms means the public need not be absent from work and other productive activities to avail of the services,” the DSWD CIO told the program anchors.
Asst. Secretary Acuna said the Department still has numerous frontline services that are manually done, requiring the physical presence of the public to access it.
Among the digitalized platforms launched this year were the Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS), Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA) Online System, and the Kaagapay Donations Portal.
These online platforms were operationalized and opened to clients in February of this year and have since been receiving positive feedback.
Addressing the question on how the clients will be safeguarded with the online systems, Asst. Secretary Acuna said DSWD social workers play a significant role in the utilization of the platforms.
In the case of the MTA online system for travel permits to minors traveling abroad which aims to deter trafficking of children, an assessment interview is conducted by the social worker online to verify the application.
The platform has changed to make it more convenient to the applicant, but the stringent assessment still remains, according to the DSWD CIO.
Presently, the DSWD is aggressively pursuing the digitalization of more of its frontline programs and services to include the dynamic social registry system, case management system, social pension system, solo parent system, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) online system, PhilSys E-Verify Tool, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Information System Reengineering, and the development of an interactive website.
One of the latest systems developed by the Department is the unified ID system for persons with disabilities aimed at combating the proliferation of fake IDs.
The DSWD is spearheading its development in collaboration with the Department’s attached agency, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA).
With the numerous systems currently being developed and more plans to automate other frontline services, Asst. Secretary Acuna said the Department recognizes the importance of seeking ideas and concepts from experts especially as the DSWD considers the needs of clients which are not adept with technology.
Asst. Secretary Acuna reiterated that the DSWD has launched a call for the submission of proposals to collaborate on the digital transformation of the Department which is open to other government agencies, private sector, technology providers, academia, consulting firms, start up, non-government organizations (NGOs), and the non-profit sector.
“Kami po sa digital transformation sa DSWD, hindi po namin magagawa na kami lang. Kaya po nakikita namin na meron po talagang value of partnerships with other stakeholders…so kung meron po kayong proposals para sa DSWD, kami po ay handa para po tignan kung anuman po ang inyong solusyon, pagtulungan po natin para mapaganda pa po ang ating serbisyo sa publiko,” the DSWD CIO said.
The call for proposal collaboration can be accessed at the link https://tinyurl.com/mwsyjwtb.
The Serbisyong DSWD for every Juan is a DSWD-DZMM partnership program aired every Saturday from 11am to 12nn. It is co-anchored by Jet Guevarra of the Public Relations Service (PRS) under the DSWD’s Strategic Communications group. (GDVF)