Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 16) — A former Social Welfare secretary and some lawmakers have criticized the department’s circulating advisory requiring permits and processing fees for COVID-19 fund drives.
In a statement, former Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said the department’s order on the regulation of solicitation of donations is “not in consonance with the huge humanitarian demands” of the current health crisis.
“It is legal, yes. But is it in consonance with the huge humanitarians demands to address the COVID-19 pandemic? Definitely not,” she said in her Facebook post on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the DSWD in a now-taken-down advisory reminded the public to secure a permit from the department first before conducting any solicitation for charitable or public welfare purposes.
Citing Presidential Decree 1564 or the Solicitation Permit Law, the DSWD Standards Bureau reasoned that “no person or organization shall conduct any form of solicitation in the country without first securing a permit” from the agency.
“The DSWD reiterates that all entities must apply for a solicitation permit with the nearest DSWD office, which has jurisdiction over the area where one wishes to conduct the solicitation activity,” the advisory read.
While it was not stated in the advisory, the DSWD Administrative Order 14 states that an applicant for a local fund drive shall be charged with a processing fee of ₱500 while national fund drives shall be charged a processing fee of ₱1,000. Violators may be fined ₱1,000 or face a one-year jail time.
But for Taguiwalo, the DSWD, which is already facing a “gigantic challenge” in implementing the social amelioration program to 18 million low-income households, should allow the private sector to help with ease during an emergency situation.
“The DSWD is already faced with the gigantic challenge of implementing the social amelioration program which includes distributing social amelioration cards, collecting and vetting them and actually distributing the financial assistance, should not place obstacles to those helping provide relief,” she said.
“I recognize na kailangang siguraduhin na walang namamantala sa panahon ng krisis. Pero sana gawin ng DSWD mas simple ang requirements at walang bayad,” said Senator Risa Hontiveros.
[Translation: I recognize that there must be safeguards against abuses during this crisis. But I hope the DSWD should simplify its requirements and remove its processing fees.]
For Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat, the agency should even be thankful for such initiatives, citing that 13 million families have not yet received the cash aid promised by the government.
“Hanggang ngayon, 13 milyong pamilya ang hindi pa nabibigyan ng ayudang ₱5,000 to ₱8,000. Dapat ay pasalamatan at sinusuportahan ang mga pagsisikap na ito, hindi nililimitahan at pinagbabayad pa ng fee,” Cullamat said.
[Translation: Until now, 13 million families have not yet received the subsidy worth ₱5,000 to ₱8,000. The DSWD should even thank and support these efforts, instead of limiting and imposing such fees.]
In a briefing in the afternoon, DSWD Undersecretary Carlo Gudmalin reiterated that the department is mandated to regulate the conduct of solicitations.
“To ensure that solicitations are properly done and will go to the intended beneficiaries, we need to know where are the areas that they need to serve,” he said. “[This is] so we’ll be able to monitor if in fact the solicitations were used for its intended purpose.”
DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista bared that only ₱68 billion of the ₱200 billion subsidy under the social amelioration program had so far been released.
Those who wish to secure a permit with the DSWD can apply at sb@dswd.gov.ph. Online payments can be settled through any Land Bank branch office in Metro Manila (Account name: Bureau of Treasury, account number: 3402-2516-96).
