As part of its regulatory functions, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Standards Bureau (SB), conducts on site validation assessment of Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs) in line with the issuance of a DSWD Certificate of Registration and License to Operate.

The assessment aims to ensure that mandatory requirements set by the DSWD are complied with which indicate that the SWDAs have the administrative, technical and financial capacity to operate and implement social welfare and development (SWD) programs and services.

Registration/licensing ensures quality standards in the SWD field

The DSWD explained that Registration is the process by which the Department assesses a SWDA to determine whether its purpose is within the field of social welfare and development.   Upon registration, the organization will be included in the DSWD registry of SWDAs.

The documentary requirements needed for the application are notarized application form, copy of updated Certificate of Registration and Latest Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); and any of the following: handbook or manual of operation, brochure, and duly signed Work and Financial Plan for at least two years.

The DSWD also enjoins the organizations to apply for a DSWD license to operate within a year after getting their registration in order to be able to operate.

Once licensed, the organizations will be eligible to become members of the Area Based Standards Network (ABSNET) of SWDAs. As ABSNET members, they will be able to participate in capacity building and skills enhancement activities conducted by the DSWD, and can be endorsed for duty free exempt in the importation of foreign donations, among others.

Despite the pandemic, the DSWD continuously performed its regulatory functions by conducting field visits to SWDAs applying for Registration and License to Operate to ensure that they are compliant with the standards set by the Department in providing the SWD programs and services to their target clientele/beneficiaries.

In 2021, the DSWD, assessed 490 applications from SWDAs nationwide with 449 granted with Certificates of Registration and License to Operate. On the other hand, for this year, as of August 31, some 212 SWDAs applied for registration and license of which 204 were issued with certificates.

For organizations which are interested to apply for a Certificate of Registration and License to Operate, they may visit the nearest DSWD Field Office.