A tandem of lawmakers has proposed the creation of a single-window system for all social services to ensure easier access and faster service delivery.
House Bill No. 7465, or the “ACCESS Bill,” is being pushed by Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos and Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos. The measure seeks to establish an Accelerated Citizen-Centered Social Services (ACCESS) System in all local government units (LGUs) that would serve as a unified access point for government social services through both physical service centers and a digital platform.
“Through ACCESS, Filipinos can simply go to their respective LGUs to avail of the social services they need. Citizens should no longer be made to go from one office to another just to find out what assistance the government can provide,” Rep. Ching Bernos said.
She added that the proposal is anchored on the principle that local governments are the people’s first line of assistance.
Under the measure, the ACCESS System will facilitate access, intake, coordination, referral and tracking of various government social services.
These include social welfare and assistance programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development; health and social insurance services, including membership registration and verification for PhilHealth; social security and retirement services of the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System; and housing and savings programs under the Pag-IBIG Fund.
The system will also cover employment and labor assistance programs of the Department of Labor and Employment and Public Employment Service Offices; civil registration and identity services under the Philippine Statistics Authority, including birth, marriage and death registration, as well as Philippine Identification System-related services; and local government social services for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, scholars, indigent residents and other priority sectors.
The proposed ACCESS System will serve as the primary entry point for individuals seeking government social services. It will provide standardized intake, documentation assistance and referral services; coordinate with concerned agencies for application processing and follow-up; and establish a unified tracking or reference system for service requests.
It will also provide information on eligibility, requirements and timelines, while maintaining both physical service centers and digital access platforms.
Rep. JB Bernos underscored the need to simplify government processes, particularly in delivering social services, given the urgent nature of many cases.
“Whenever a person approaches the government, it often means there is an emergency. That is why action and service must also be immediate. We believe the ACCESS System can help streamline government processes and ensure that those who need help are not further burdened by red tape,” he said.