The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Standards Bureau (SB), aggressively rolls out its Civil Society Organization (CSO) Registration and Licensing Caravan in the second half of 2025 to provide face-to-face technical assistance to Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs).

The initiative is designed to fast-track compliance with the DSWD’s regulatory requirements by helping agencies successfully upload their complete and compliant documents to the DSWD Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS), the agency’s new digital platform.

The caravan has already successfully conducted activities in two major regions including Region IV-A (August 27, 2025) and National Capital Region (September 5, 2025). The Bureau has also announced that the caravan will be heading to four more key regions to reach a wider number of CSOs. The remaining caravan activities are scheduled for Regions III, VII, XI, and XII.

The DSWD is urging all eligible SWDAs to participate, particularly those who fall under the following categories: SWDAs that are not yet registered, licensed, and accredited (RLA), SWDAs with expired and soon-to-expire RLA, and agencies with pending RLA applications that require immediate compliance.

By bringing the registration and licensing process closer to the agencies, the DSWD aims to ensure that all organizations operating SWD programs meet the national standards for legitimate service delivery, thereby protecting the welfare of the beneficiaries they serve. The use of the DSWD HELPS is a key component of the Department’s digitalization thrust, making the entire regulatory process more efficient and transparent. (PJE)