Organizations conducting public solicitations should have corresponding permits from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which are processed and issued through the agency’s Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS) to ensure legitimacy of the activities, a senior official said on Tuesday (April 8). Director Megan Therese Manahan of the agency’s Standard Bureau (SB) appealed to the public to report charitable institutions or groups that they know of which are conducting solicitation activities without the appropriate DSWD permits as these are illegal. “Kung may mga NGO po kayong nakikita or mga solication activities na nakikita, pakireport na lang […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is calling for volunteers to join in the production of family food packs (FFPs) for the relief efforts for families affected by the latest eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on Tuesday (April 8). Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said on Wednesday (April 9) that more manpower is needed at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC), the agency’s main disaster response hub located at Chapel Road in Barangay 195, Pasay City. “We are calling on our kababayans in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby areas to […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has appealed for stronger community structures to protect the elderly following the recent incident in Antipolo, Rizal where an elderly person with disability was mocked by four men as shown in a video that went viral on March 31. “Let this incident be a reminder to all that our senior citizens have rights that are protected by the State. Hindi pwede yung bibiru-biruin at parang pinaglalaruan sila porke hindi na sila malakas physically para umangal,” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Wednesday (April 9). The DSWD spokesperson also enjoined local […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Kaagapay Donations Portal is a convenient and transparent way of sending donations especially in times of disasters, a senior agency official said on Tuesday (April 8). “This is very timely dahil sa pagputok ng Mt. Kanlaon, ano ang kayang gawin ng ating mga kababayan dito sa Pilipinas or iyong mga nasa ibang bansa o kahit di natin kababayan kung gusto nilang tumulong sa mga nangangailangan. Ngayon sa pagputok ng Mt. Kanlaon, maaari silang magpunta sa Kaagapay portal,” Assistant Secretary Marie Rafael of the DSWD’s Partnerships Building and Resource Mobilization Office (PBRMO) told […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be providing psychosocial and financial support for the families of migrant Filipinos who were affected by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar last March 28. In line with the directive of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the agency has committed to provide the assistance during a meeting with various national government agencies on Monday (April 7). Director Maria Isabel Lanada of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB), who attended the inter-agency meeting, said the Department will deploy psychological first aid (PFA) providers to help alleviate the emotional and mental distress […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has filed a criminal case against Cebu-based Simplyshare Foundation Inc. for the unauthorized solicitation of cash and relief goods which is in violation of Presidential Decree 1564 or the Solicitation Permit Law. The DSWD’s Field Office 7 – Central Visayas filed the complaint on Tuesday (April 8) before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office against Pamela S. Baricuarto and Elisse Nicole B. Catalan in their capacity as Founder and Executive Director, respectively of SimplyShare Foundation Inc. “As of now, the Office of the City Prosecutor is currently evaluating the Complaint-Affidavit with all its […]

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has reiterated that politicians and candidates in the May 12 elections are not allowed in payout sites of any agency program, including the Ayuda sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP). In an interview with GMA 7’s ‘Unang Hirit’ on Tuesday (April 8), the DSWD chief stressed that the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) on the implementation of the AKAP has strong provisions barring politicians from electioneering in payout venues. “Nasa guidelines na iyan, una hindi sila pwedeng pumunta during the conduct of payouts. Pangalawa, wala dapat ang kanilang mga materyales sa […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) Cybercrime Division and Facebook Philippines to take down the viral post on a woman with mental health condition who was made to discredit Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto in a video. “Nakikipag-ugnayan na kami ngayon sa NBI Cybercrime Division para matukoy kung sino yung nag-upload at makikipag-ugnayan na kami sa Facebook para i-bring down yung post. Kasi tuloy-tuloy eh, maraming nanunuod, so iyon ang request ng biktima at ng pamilya na maibaba iyon,” Secretary Rex Gatchalian told news anchor Arnold Clavio during […]

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured the public the agency is ready to dispatch family food packs (FFPs) and other needed aid to families affected by another explosive eruption of Mt. Kanlaon early Tuesday (April 8) morning. The DSWD chief said over 250,000 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) were prepositioned in the warehouses of DSWD’s Field Office (FO) 6 – Western Visayas and 7-Central Visayas ahead of the ongoing explosive eruption. “As I speak, our Field Offices in Western and Central Visayas are closely coordinating with affected local government units (LGUs) so we can […]