The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) urges social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs) whose certifications of registration, license to operate, and accreditation (CRLA) have already expired to renew these for them to continue their operations.

“So yun po if hindi po kayo licensed nagpapadala po kasi kami ng notices na hindi na po kayo pwedeng mag-operate, hindi na po kayo pwedeng mag-receive mg mga clients kasi we have to ensure na safe lagi ang mga clients natin,” Director Megan Therese Manahan of the DSWD Standards Bureau (SB), the agency’s main regulatory office, said during an interview with Radyo Pilipinas on Thursday (March 20).

Upon issuance of the notice, a SWDA is mandated to apply within a 30-day period since failure to do so may hold them accountable under the law.

Director Manahan said the SWDAs can renew their CRLAs through the DSWD’s newly launched Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS).

“Through the HELPS, yung sinasabi nating regulatory services like pagbibigay ng certification, accreditation, pati pag-iissue ng public solicitation permit, at duty exempt importation of donation dati ginagawa naming manually, digitized natin completely centralized na po sila,” Director Manahan said.

Director Manahan said under Republic Act (RA) No. 4373, no SWDAs, which are better known as foundations or charitable organizations to the public, are allowed to operate without DSWD-issued CRLAs.

Now that the HELPS is operational, SWDAs can now apply remotely for CRLA in as fast as 20 minutes and receive it within 14 days. The current process flaunts a major upgrade from the manual process that could take up to 6-months of processing time and multiple DSWD office visits.

Amid the streamlined process, Director Manahan called for the full-compliance among SWDAs, explaining that operating without a license and a permit can put them in a disadvantageous position.

Under the law, any person, corporation or entity operating as a SWDA, without a valid certificate of registration and license to operate from the DSWD shall be fined with a minimum of P100,000 up to a maximum of P500,000. Moreover, proven violators of the law will face imprisonment of not less than a year up to three years, at the discretion of the court.

Director Manahan also said that the SB has delegated the monitoring functions to the agency’s Field Offices.

This approach ensures that any unethical, dishonest, or unusual practice is promptly addressed and acted upon, as the Field Offices are geographically-advantaged to spearhead the needed surveillance. (LSJ)