Right photo shows DSWD Secretary Virginia N. Orogo (right) shakes the hand of Seychelle Villanueva as she receives the travel clearance for her child who is traveling abroad after 40 minutes of processing using the online application. DSWD Undersecretary Mae Fe Ancheta-Templa looks on.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced today that online application for travel clearance for minors travelling abroad (MTA) and registration, licensing, and accreditation of Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs) is now open to the public in Regions VII, XI, and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Earlier this week, the DSWD launched its E-Services for MTA and SWDAs as part of easing government-public transactions following the instruction of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to streamline government processes. The President signed last May the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act” or Republic Act No. 11032 to mandate government agencies to reduce the processing time for permits, transactions, and applications.
DSWD Secretary Virgina Orogo said that the utilization of the online technology to expedite the Department’s public service delivery is in compliance to the said law.
Sec. Orogo said, “We are really trying to bring the Department’s programs and services closer to the people in adherence to the ease of doing business act signed by our President. The issuance of travel clearance for minors traveling abroad is an important program of the Department, which ensures that children are protected from abuse and trafficking.”
In a year, the Department processes an average of 41,780 travel clearances nationwide. By utilizing the e-Services, the public will no longer need to file their applications in person, but can just access the online program via the official website of the Department,www.dswd.gov.ph/eservices.
During the program launch, Seychelle Villanueva, a walk-in applicant used the online application terminal and was able to get the travel clearance for her child within 40 minutes since her documentary requirements were complete.
Seychelle said, “Madali namang gamitin ang online application. Eto nakuha ko na yung clearance para sa anak ko. Maganda ito lalo na sa mga working na katulad ko (It is easy to use the online application. Here, I already got my child’s clearance. This is useful especially for working mothers like me).”
Registration, Licensing, and Accreditation
Meanwhile, SWDA-applicants for registration, licensing, and accreditation may just file their applications in their offices with their scanned documentary requirements. After sending their applications, they will wait for the notification of the assessment results to be done by a DSWD social worker.
Registration, licensing, and accreditation of SWDAs is a core function of the Department which standardizes the implementation of social welfare and development programs by local service providers and social welfare and development agencies.
As stressed by DSWD Undersecretary Mae Fe Templa, the DSWD e-Services aims to cut down the processing time, without compromising the quality of work of the social workers.
“The current DSWD e-Services is just one of the Department’s initiatives to contribute to the President’s goal of ensuring ease of doing business to the public,” she said.
Moreover, the e-Services provides clear accountability measures as the public can keep track of their applications. Notifications will also be sent to the applicants regarding the status of their transactions. ###
