A Social Welfare and Development Agency or what we call “SWDA” is a non-stock, nonprofit corporation, organization, or association engaged in providing, directly or indirectly, social welfare and development (SWD) programs and services, to its intended clients.

SWDAs obtain their finances, from any government agency or instrumentality, or other fund-generating activities, as authorized by law.

Two (2) major types of SWDAs are regulated by the DSWD including the Social Work Agency or SWA and the Auxiliary SWDAs.

The Social Work Agency or SWA, is defined as a person, corporation or organization, private or government, that engages mainly and generally, or represents itself to engage in social welfare work whether case work, group work, or community work. SWAs obtain their finances, either totally or in part, from any agency or instrumentality of the government and/or from the community by direct or indirect solicitations and/or fund drives, and/or private endowment. It is classified into:

1. Public SWA - An organization managed by national government agencies (NGAs) or local government units (LGUs). This includes:

1.1.1. Residential-Based - An alternative form of family care providing 24-hour group living on a temporary basis to poor, vulnerable, disadvantaged, and/or in crisis individuals and families whose basic needs cannot be met by their families and/or relatives or by any other form of alternative family care for a period of time.

1.1.2. Center-Based - Non-residential psychosocial services rendered in physical facilities, referred to as "centers", on a daily basis or during part of the day addressing crisis or developmental concern of an individual, group, or family. Beneficiaries in center-based services have families to return to after each segment of the brief treatment or developmental program, rendered up to a maximum of three weeks.

1.2. Private SWA - A non-stock, non-profit non-government organization duly established and/or recognized under Philippine laws performing social welfare and development activities. The classification of private SWAs are listed below:

1.2.1. Residential-Based as defined above under Public SWA;

1.2.2. Center-Based as defined above under Public SWA;

1.2.3. Community-Based - Programs and services rendered in the community while they remain in their homes and/or with their families, e.g. Child Placing Agencies (CPAs)

The second type is what we call the Auxiliary SWDA which provides indirect SWD programs and services. It is classified into:

2.1. People’s Organization - A bona-fide association of citizens with demonstrated capacity to promote public interest and with identifiable leadership, membership, and structure, which provided SWD services beyond its members;

2.2. Resource Agency - An Auxiliary SWDA that provides cash and/or in-kind assistance such as food, clothing, medicines, educational, shelter; and programs and services like technical assistance, training, research and advocacy to other implementing SWDAs or directly to the beneficiaries; and,

2.3. SWD Network - A group of SWDAs that organized themselves for a common goal in promoting social protection for the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged beneficiaries.

Yes, a SWDA can be classified both as a SWA and as an Auxiliary SWDA as long as the applicant has satisfied the requirements for both SWDA types.

According to Section 4 of Republic Act (RA) 10847 or Act Upgrading the Sundry Provisions Relative to the Practice of Social Work, “No social welfare and development agency shall operate and be accredited as such unless it has registered and secured a license with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which shall then issue the corresponding registration certificate and license to operate.”

Before the registration and licensing of any applicant agency, it must meet the following criteria stated under Section 4 of RA 10847 and Section 26, Rule V of Professional Regulatory Board Resolution No. 3, series of 2017. The applicant agency should meet the following:

1. Must be engaged mainly or generally in SWD activities;
2. Has employed a sufficient number of duly qualified staff and/or registered social workers who have at least two (2) years of work experience in the field of SWD to supervise and take charge of its SWD activities and/or social work interventions following the set standards;
3. Must show in a duly certified financial statement that at least seventy percent (70%) of its funds are disbursed for direct social work services while thirty percent (30%) are allocated or disbursed for administrative services;
4. Must keep a record of all the social development and/or welfare activities that it implements.

Registration is the process of assessing the applicant agency to determine whether its intended purpose is within the purview of SWD;

Licensing is the process of assessing the qualifications and authorizing a private agency or organization to operate as a SWDA, having the capacity to operate administratively, technically, and financially.

An applicant agency that qualifies for the DSWD Registration and Licensing shall be issued with a Certificate of Registration and License to Operate (CRLTO) as a SWDA.

Accreditation is the process of assessing a SWA if its SWD programs and services are compliant with the standards set by the DSWD.

A SWDA with an accredited program/service shall be issued with a Certificate of Accreditation.

All applications for registration, licensing, and accreditation (RLA) and application for amendments shall be done online via the DSWD Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS).

Yes. Under HELPS, the processing of application for Registration and License to Operate are now combined as one, wherein a Certificate of Registration and License to Operate (CRLTO) shall be issued.

Applicants who are already engaged as a SWDA prior to the application for CRLTO will be required to submit the following:

The processing time of each application assessed with complete and compliant documents is seven (7) working days.

For new applicants, the validity of the CRLTO is three (3) years, subject to monitoring, while during renewal, the CRLTO may be granted either another 3-year or perpetual validity depending on the assessment.

Perpetual validity may be granted if the applicant agency has met the set requirements and criteria :

It means that the applicant SWDA has satisfied the set requirements and criteria for good standing/track record.

The "perpetual validity" shall be based on the SWDA's SEC Certificate of Incorporation validity. If the SEC-issued certificate is not perpetual but more than 3 years, the SB will adopt the specific validity period stated in the SEC certificate.

The processing fee is Php2,000 valid for thirty (30) calendar days.

The SWDA shall also apply through its DSWD HELPS Account and submit the necessary requirements depending on the type of amendment.

The requirements for the amendment of CRLTO vary depending on the following grounds:

• Change of name;
• Change of client category;
• Typographical error;
• Voluntary cessation of some areas of operation and/or programs and services;
• Expansion of operations and/or areas of coverage;
• Transfer of operations and/or facilities.

The documentary requirements, processing fees, and processing days can be found in Annex H.

1. Accreditation of the first-timer private SWA, which CRLTO was issued through the DSWD HELPS shall be automatic. The schedule for accreditation will depend on the chosen date of the SWDA based on the prescribed timeline.
2. Private SWA for Renewal is required to process the application for CRLTO and accreditation within twenty-one (21) working days prior to the expiration of its CRLTO and Certificate of Accreditation.
3. Public SWA, whether new and renewal applications, is required to process the application for accreditation twenty-one (21) working days before the expiration of its Certificate of Accreditation.
4. Private SWAs with valid RL certificates from previous guidelines shall file an application for Certificate of Accreditation through the DSWD HELPS twenty-one (21) days upon effectivity of the guidelines.

The validity of the Certificate of Accreditation shall be synchronized with the validity of the issued CRLTO, if the CRLTO is valid for three (3) years.

If the validity of the CRLTO is perpetual upon its renewal, the Certificate of Accreditation shall still be valid for three (3) years.

1. For first-timer Private SWA applicants whose CRLTO was issued through the DSWD HELPS, the process will take seven (7) working days counted from the date of the assessment visit.
2. For Private SWA with renewal application, the process will take seven (7) working days counted from the date of the assessment visit.
3. For the public SWA, whether new or renewal application, the process will take seven (7) working days starting from the filing of the application.

• Private SWAs for first-time accreditation under HELPS need not pay any processing fee since it shall be covered by the PHP 2,000 processing fee for CRLTO.
• Private SWAs for renewal and/or with valid DSWD Certificate from previous guidelines shall pay a processing fee of PHP 1,000 per program/facility/area of operation.
• Public SWAs are exempted from paying the processing fee.

1. A SWA shall apply for a renewal of CRLTO and Accreditation twenty-one (21) working days prior to its expiration following the procedure and requirements for the renewal of CRLTO.
2. Public SWAs that are already engaged and/or with expired certificates from the old guidelines must also create an account and apply for accreditation within twenty-one (21) working days from the effectivity date of these guidelines.
3. Public SWAs with issued Certificate of Accreditation under HELPS shall apply for renewal twenty-one (21) working days prior to the expiration of its certificate.

1. Automatic membership in the Area-Based Standards Network (ABSNet);
2. Lesser documentary requirements when applying for a public solicitation permit; and
3. Other incentives as deemed appropriate by the DSWD.

1. Eligibility for a certification for duty-exempt importation of foreign donations;
2. Access to networks and linkages with other SWDAs;
3. Certificate of Commendation or Plaque of Recognition;
4. Participation in DSWD’s capability building and skills enhancement;
5. Recommendation for training programs provided by the DSWD Academy;
6. Financial subsidy and cost of care, subject to availability of funds;
7. Other incentives as deemed appropriate by the DSWD.

There is no need to create a new account to access and avail of the other services offered by the DSWD HELPS. One account can already access all online services available in the HELPS.

To file a complaint, a duly accomplished, and notarized complaint form shall be submitted to the Standards Bureau (SB) either through walk-in, by registered mail, or through email at sb@dswd.gov.ph. Our SB staff will provide an update once the complaint has been received and deliberated.

1. For Newly-Established SWDAs - If the applicant agency fails to comply with the registration and licensing requirements upon assessment, its application will be disapproved. The applicant will be given thirty (30) calendar days to comply with the unmet requirements and re-apply without needing to pay the Php2,000 processing fee. Re-application beyond the said period shall require the payment of the processing fee.

2. For Engaged SWDAs - If the concerned SWDA fails to comply with the registration and licensing requirements upon assessment, its application will be disapproved. The concerned SWDA will be given thirty (30) calendar days to comply with the unmet requirements and re-apply without needing to pay the Php2,000 processing fee. Re-application beyond the said period shall require the payment of the processing fee. During this period, the operations of the SWDA will be suspended and it will not be allowed to accept new beneficiaries. A suspension order to this effect will be signed by the SB Director.

If the SWDA is found operating despite not having CRLTO, the appropriate criminal case for violation of RA No. 10847 and other actions/suits for violation of other pertinent laws shall be filed by the DSWD, to be led by the SB in coordination with SEC, concerned FO, and LGU that has jurisdiction over the SWDA. Meanwhile, the DSWD Legal Service or the respective Field Office-Legal Unit shall provide necessary technical assistance in the drafting of complaint, judicial affidavit, affidavits of witnesses, and other pleadings and legal documents required for the filing of appropriate actions against the non-compliant SWDA.