MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has launched the ‘Kaagapay’ Donations Portal, a new online platform designed to streamline the donation process and ensure that contributions reach their intended recipients directly, without passing through the DSWD. This initiative was announced by Assistant Secretary Ana Maria Paz Rafael of the DSWD’s Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization Office (PBRMO) in a recent news release.
The ‘Kaagapay’ portal aims to simplify the donation process for both private sector donors and individuals eager to contribute to various causes. The platform integrates popular payment gateways such as Maya and GCash, allowing for a seamless donation experience. Assistant Secretary Rafael emphasized that the primary goal of the portal is to facilitate easier donations for those wishing to support the DSWD’s Disaster Response Relief Operations, Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCFs), Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs), and a network of Local Government Units (LGUs) involved in humanitarian efforts.
SWDAs, which include private organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs), and civil society organizations (CSOs), play a crucial role in delivering essential social welfare and development services to vulnerable populations. The ‘Kaagapay’ portal features a dashboard that provides real-time updates on the total funds raised and the number of donors, ensuring transparency in every transaction. This feature allows the public to monitor the impact of their contributions and maintain trust in the donation process.
The portal also offers detailed information about the work of SWDAs, including their history, the sectors they serve, and the specific services they provide. Assistant Secretary Rafael highlighted the portal’s potential to increase visibility for lesser-known foundations, making their donation channels more accessible to potential donors.
For disaster response efforts, the ‘Kaagapay’ portal exclusively accepts cash donations through digital transactions. This policy is in place to avoid the distribution of low-quality perishable goods in disaster-stricken areas, ensuring that aid is both timely and effective. In contrast, in-kind donations can be directly sent by donors to their chosen DSWD-run CRCFs or SWDAs.
To further assist donors, the portal facilitates connections with partner courier services from the logistics industry. Donors are responsible for the delivery costs, which can be conveniently processed through digital transactions on the platform.
The launch of the ‘Kaagapay’ Donations Portal is part of the DSWD’s broader digital transformation efforts, coinciding with the agency’s 74th anniversary celebration from February 17-21. The theme of the celebration, ‘Bawat Pamilyang Pilipino ay Mahalaga sa Bagong Pilipinas,’ underscores the DSWD’s commitment to serving every Filipino family in the new Philippines.