The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Standards Bureau, recently conducted a four-day consultation workshop to gather comments and recommendations on the draft guidelines on the registration of Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs), and on public solicitation.

The consolidated comments and recommendations will be used to finalize the two proposed bills to be lobbied at the Congress namely: (1) SWDA Bill or An Act Establishing a Comprehensive System for the Registration and Licensing of Social Welfare and Development Agencies and Accreditation of Social Welfare and Development Programs and Services, and Appropriating Funds Thereof, and (2) Public Solicitation Bill or An Act Regulating Public Solicitations and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof.

The draft SWDA Bill aims to strengthen the DSWD functions on regulations by establishing a comprehensive system for the registration and licensing of SWDAs and accreditation of social welfare and development programs and services. It also seeks to ensure that social welfare and development programs and services in the public and private sectors comply with the national policies and standards while adhering to the principles of human rights.

Meanwhile, the draft Public Solicitation Bill will ensure that even at the level of the local government unit, the conduct of fund-raising activity is regulated and the accumulated funds will be given to the intended beneficiaries.

The workshop paved the way for the SWDAs to meet and collaborate to have a unified ground in establishing these regulatory policies. It also served as the voice of our stakeholders to share their suggestions and recommendations to ensure good and quality services to our beneficiaries.

Present in the workshop were representatives from Field Office I-V, CAR and NCR’s Standards Section, (Area-Based Standards Network) ABSNet representatives, and Standards Bureau’s technical staff.