MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has introduced a new digital platform called ‘Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System’ (HELPS), designed to simplify access to its regulatory services for social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs). According to Standards Bureau Division Chief Anna Maria Alexa Ledesma, HELPS aims to modernize and enhance the efficiency of DSWD’s regulatory processes through technology.
Ledesma highlighted that HELPS is the result of a year-long effort by the department, stating, ‘With HELPS, SWDAs no longer need to queue; they can apply online.’ The platform’s official launch is scheduled for February 18 at the SMX Convention Center, coinciding with the DSWD’s 74th anniversary.
The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s agenda to digitalize government systems. Ledesma explained that the primary objective of HELPS is to increase the number of licensed SWDAs, thereby enabling them to assist more beneficiaries and enhance service quality.
Under the legal framework provided by Republic Act No. 43734, as amended by RA No. 10847, DSWD is responsible for issuing certifications for registration, licenses to operate, and accreditations (CRLA) to SWDAs, people’s organizations (POs), and civil society organizations (CSOs). The introduction of HELPS allows these services to be accessed online, significantly reducing delays associated with traditional methods.
Ledesma noted that the digital system will reduce the time for CRLA issuance from 90 days to just seven days, and decrease the processing steps from 49 to 12. The required documents have also been reduced from 50 to 11. Additionally, the platform facilitates applications for public solicitation permits and duty-exempt importation (DEI), benefiting SWDAs and NGOs.
The streamlined process is expected to encourage more SWDAs to utilize DSWD’s regulatory services, ensuring that organizations maintain high standards in delivering social welfare programs. Ledesma set a target for 2025 to process 1,362 SWDAs for licensing and accreditation through HELPS.
Despite the shift to digital services, Ledesma assured that face-to-face monitoring of SWDAs will continue to prevent any oversight in compliance and ethical management.