By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has issued a simplified process of accrediting civil society organizations (CSOs) to enable them to access various government support programs. "We have expedited the process of accreditation to make it more responsive to the conditions of our CSO partners. However, the process still provides for the stringent scrutiny of submitted documents to ensure that CSOs applying for accreditation are legitimate, of good standing, and will not be vulnerable to corruption," DSWD OIC Secretary Emmanuel Leyco said. DSWD officer-in-charge (OIC) Undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco
(MANILA BULLETIN) The amended guidelines cover the process of giving a certificate of accreditation to a beneficiary CSO--a group composed of organized individuals who need government support through projects or programs which they can access. These beneficiary CSOs also include DSWD-organized CSOs--a group or association that is composed of beneficiaries identified by the department for its projects or programs, such as the associations under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and Emergency Shelter Assistance Program (ESAP). Under the new rules, the documentary requirements are simplified and easy to comply with; established at the grassroots level; and formulated in a way that does not in any way diminish the objectives and the integrity of the accreditation process. For associations or groups organized by DSWD, the head of the applicable DSWD program or project would issue a certificate of compliance attesting that the applicant CSO has met the requirements specified in Section 65 of the 2017 General Appropriations Act. DSWD explained that documentary requirements for other beneficiary CSO applicants that are not organized by the DSWD however slightly differ from those organized by the department. The applying beneficiary CSO must duly accomplish the accreditation application form. In addition, the applicant CSO is required to submit documentary requirements proving their existence and organization such as their barangay certification, certification of endorsement from at least two publicly known individuals in the community, organizational chart or governance structure, and information on organizational profile. If the CSO has previously received public funds, a certificate of good standing from the government agency from which the funds came from must be provided. The CSO must also provide proof that it has undergone social preparation from the DSWD by the designated regional program/project officer of the DSWD program or project where the CSO seeks to engage partnership. Upon receipt of the complete application form and attachments, the concerned DSWD Field Office, through its standards unit, will undertake the necessary steps to review, validate and respond to the application. Given that validation of the submitted documents and proof of existence and organization must be established, the “amended guidelines” has estimated that the entire process of accreditation will take around 21 days if all documents are in order. However, if the DSWD Field Office accreditation committee finds irregularities in the submitted documents, the CSO applicant will be duly notified and will be given three working days from the receipt of the notice to explain. Once approved, the certificate of accreditation is valid for three years from the date of issuance unless sooner revoked by the department. After which, the beneficiary CSO may apply for the renewal of its certificate of accreditation within 60 working days prior to the expiration of its certificate.