The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) newest digital platform dubbed ‘Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System’ or HELPS will serve as a virtual one-stop-shop for the agency’s regulatory services for social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs).

In the DSWD Thursday Media Forum on February 13, Division Chief (DC) Anna Maria Alexa Ledesma of the agency’s Standards Bureau (SB) told reporters that the HELPS will be harnessing the power of technology to ease and modernize access to DSWD’s regulatory services.

“This initiative is a product of the year-long commitment of the Department. Dito po sa HELPS, there is no need for our SWDAs to fall in line, they can go online,” DC Ledesma said in the forum held at the DSWD Central Office’s New Press Center.

The HELPS will be officially launched on February 18 at the SMX Convention Center as part of the DSWD’s 74th anniversary celebration.

The operationalization of HELPS is anchored on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s socio-economic agenda on the digitalization of government systems and processes.

“Ang goal naman po talaga ng HELPS ay mas marami pa tayong malisensiyshan na SWDAs, and in turn, marami din silang matutulungan na beneficiaries and overall lead to improve quality service,” the SB division chief said.

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 43734, as amended by RA No. 10847, the DSWD issues a certification for the registration, license to operate, and accreditation (CRLA) of SWDAs, peoples organizations (POs), and other civil society organizations (CSOs).

These services may now be accessed online through the HELPS and allow applicants to do away from the delays that may be tied to the traditional process.

“Through the digital application system, the issuance of the CRLA will be streamlined from 90 days to 7 days, and cut down the processing steps from 49 to just 12. The documentary requirements were also simplified from 50 to just 11 documents,” DC Ledesma said.

DC Ledesma explained that the online platform allows CRLA applicants to seamlessly proceed with application for public solicitation permit which is required for SWDAs desiring to solicit or receive contributions from the public for charitable purposes.

The SWDAs may also lodge their application for Duty-Exempt Importation (DEI) through HELPS that allows non-government organizations (NGOs) to import goods without paying tax duties.

DC Ledesma said the agency expects that with the streamlined requirements and process, more SWDAs will be encouraged to avail of the agency’s regulatory services, and contribute to ensuring that standards are upheld above board by organizations engaged in the delivery of social welfare programs.

“For 2025, now with the help of HELPS, the agency’s target is to accommodate 1,362 SWDAs for licensing and accreditation of 223,” DC Ledesma pointed out.

The SB division chief, however, affirmed that its monitoring mechanisms for SWDAs that involve face-to-face visitation will remain, ensuring that there will be no blind spot for non-compliance, unethical management in the operations of registered, licensed, and accredited organizations or agencies. (LSJ)