The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has announced stricter monitoring for social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs) granted public solicitation permits, following new guidelines.

In a news forum on March 8, DSWD-Standards Bureau Director Megan Therese Manahan explained that public solicitation permits are issued to non-stock and non-profit organizations to safeguard the public from fraudulent solicitation and to ensure transparency in fundraising efforts.

SWDAs include private organizations, non-governmental organizations, and civil society groups that provide vital services to vulnerable communities across the country.

“Kapag po may mga public solicitation po, dapat kumuha po ng permit sa amin. So, kapag po kumuha ng permit sa amin, mayroon din dapat syang distribution plan, sino yung intended beneficiaries mo, ano yung region na tutulungan mo, and then after two months, kapag nag-expire na yung permit mo, kailangan mong mag-submit ng mga reportorial requirements sa amin,” Manahan said.

(When there are public solicitations, you must obtain a permit from us. So, when you obtain a permit from us, you must also have a distribution plan, who are your intended beneficiaries, what is the region you will help, and then after two months, when your permit expires, you must submit reportorial requirements to us.)

With the launch of the new online portal, the Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS), the approval process for public solicitation permits has become more efficient, allowing for faster approval times—three working days for temporary permits and seven days for regular permits, Manahan said.

In addition, DSWD has tasked its field offices to monitor the compliance of SWDAs with the conditions of their permits.

“Very strong kami in requiring reports kasi if hindi sila nag-comply, hindi ka na pwedeng mag-renew, pwede ka rin ma-blacklist sa amin. So it’s very critical for us to see kung saan napupunta ‘yung mga na-solicit na pera,” Manahan said.

(We are very strong in requiring reports because if they don't comply, you can't renew, you can also be blacklisted by us. So it's very critical for us to see where the solicited money goes.)

Under Presidential Decree No. 1564, also known as the Solicitation Permit Law, the DSWD holds exclusive authority over regulating donation solicitations for charitable or public welfare purposes.

The law requires individuals and organizations to obtain a DSWD permit before collecting donations to prevent fraud and protect public trust in charitable efforts.