DSWD continues to explore digitization projects, partnerships

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has expressed support to President Duterte’s order to adopt digital payments for all government transactions to make the delivery of services more efficient and effective.
“The DSWD continues to explore further interventions toward the digitization of the agency following the national government’s thrust for an inclusive financial system,” it said in a statement.
Prior to the signing of Executive Order 170, DSWD said it has already implemented a safe transaction account through a deposit account or e-wallet/e-money for the distribution of cash grants and other financial transactions for the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
It has also entered a partnership with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to integrate the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys)-enabled services in implementing its programs as part of its overall plan for the digital transformation of social protection programs.
DSWD explained that the PhilSys adoption will enable faster eligibility checks and enable digital payments that will provide better and multiple access points for its beneficiaries to receive social assistance.
It continues to distribute the cash card of beneficiaries of the unconditional cash transfer (UCT) programs to ensure the swift, convenient, and safe delivery of financial assistance.
These include beneficiaries of the social pension program and UCT for poor households.
In 2021, DSWD has tapped financial service providers, including bank and e-wallet services, for efficient disbursement of the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program.
The department now intends to engage with other service providers or payment facilities as another means of delivery of the social protection packages among its beneficiaries.