These days, the tagline — Do not fall in line, go online — has become the measure of the successful modernization of government and private sector services. Transacting online has become the norm, not the exception, and its availability reflects how a government agency or private corporation values efficiency and customer service.

That is the same tagline of a program in the comprehensive digital transformation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) which it unveiled during its 74th anniversary celebration last week. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and transparency in delivering social services to the Filipino populace.

During the launch event, President Marcos emphasized the importance of such innovations. “As we commemorate the past, we must also prepare for the future. That future demands modernization, efficiency, accessibility,” he said.

The cornerstone program is known as the Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS), It serves as a virtual one-stop-shop for the registration, licensing, and accreditation (RLA) of social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs), people’s organizations, and other civil society organizations engaged in social welfare services.

The manual RLA process would take three to six months, requiring multiple in-person visits to DSWD offices. With HELPS, applicants can now register and submit their applications online in approximately 20 minutes and receive their certificates within 14 days. This digital system streamlines processing time from 43 days to just seven days each for registration and licensing, and accreditation, reducing client steps from 49 to 12 and simplifying documentary requirements from 50 to 11. This transformation not only expedites service delivery but also minimizes the administrative burden on both the DSWD and its stakeholders.

A notable feature within HELPS is the Minors Traveling Abroad System, which modernizes the processing of travel clearances for Filipino minors. It has reduced processing times from several months to just one to three days, eliminating the need for multiple physical visits to DSWD offices.

Another component of the DSWD’s digitization effort is the “Kaagapay” Donations Portal, designed to provide donors with a more straightforward and convenient way to extend assistance. This platform ensures that donations are transmitted directly to intended beneficiaries without passing through the DSWD. It features a real-time dashboard displaying the total amount raised and the number of donors, fostering accountability and public trust.

For disaster response, the portal accepts cash donations through digital transactions to prevent the distribution of substandard perishable goods to affected areas. In-kind donations can be sent directly by donors to their chosen DSWD-run centers or SWDAs, with the portal facilitating connections to partner courier services, streamlining the logistics of aid distribution.

These digital innovations are part of the broader “Paspas Serbisyo” (Rapid Service) Program, one of the seven priority initiatives under the leadership of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian. The program focuses on streamlining, reengineering, automating, digitalizing, and centralizing the department’s regulatory functions.

The current digitization initiatives build upon earlier efforts such as the Management Information System (MIS) for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) which has been enhanced to support various functions, including payments, verification, updates, and grievance tracking. This system has been instrumental in maintaining an updated list of beneficiaries and monitoring compliance with program conditions.

By reducing processing times, simplifying procedures, and enhancing transparency, the DSWD’s digitization program is poised to significantly improve the delivery of social services in the country.