The Department of Social Welfare and Development acknowledged the progress of its modernized social welfare registry process last Friday.

The Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS) was launched on 18 February 2025 to create a digital platform for the registration and accreditation of Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs).

These agencies are classified by the DSWD as public or private organizations that focus on providing social welfare services to individuals from different marginalized sectors in society such as indigenous communities.

HELPS has since led to the registration and licensing of 617 agencies, 266 issued Certificates of Registration and License to Operate, accreditation of 63 SWDAs, and 183 public solicitation permits.

Department undersecretary Irene Dumlao noted that the development of the program was part of DSWD’s plan to adapt its services to more platforms for its partnered agencies to have a streamlined process that allows them to focus on their respective work.

“Malaking bagay po ang DSWD HELPS hindi lamang para sa mga SWDA kundi para sa kabuuan ng sektor ng social welfare,” she said.

“It shows that the Department is serious about making our regulatory processes more efficient, transparent, and responsive to the needs of our partners,” Dumlao added.

Through an earlier post on a social media platform, DSWD’s Standards Bureau Director Megan Therese Manahan detailed that the development of HELPS was a direct result of feedback that the agency got from its various stakeholders.

“We got their feedback. We took it into consideration din sa pagre-revise ng mga guidelines. Nag-reduce kami ng documents, ng steps, talagang nire-evaluate namin yung backroom namin to determine how we can streamline it and make the experience of the applicants better,” she explained.

In spite of its already digitized system, the DSWD reported that it still conducted field activities in the past year to ensure that agencies abided by its regulatory standards.