The e-Services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is an electronic platform that aims to speed up issuance of key frontline services of the agency by converting into online transactions the applications, processing, and approval of: (1) Travel Clearance Certificate for Minors Traveling Abroad; (2) Registration and Licensing of Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs), and; (3) Accreditation of Social Welfare and Development Programs and Services.

Background and Problem

The DSWD is the issuing agency for travel clearance for minors traveling abroad. The travel clearance is a document issued by the Department to a child below 18 years of age (referred to as minor) traveling abroad unaccompanied by any of the parents or persons having parental authority or legal custody over the child. The DSWD e-Services for the issuance of travel clearance to minors traveling abroad supports the implementation of Republic Act No. 10364, otherwise known as An Act Expanding Republic Act No. 9208 entitled “An Act to Institute Policies to Eliminate Trafficking in Persons especially Women and Children, Establishing the Necessary Institutional Mechanisms for the Protection and Support of Trafficked Persons, Providing Penalties for its Violations and for Other Purposes.”

On the other hand, the Department is also mandated to ensure that people, private, and public agencies engaged in social welfare and development activities operate in compliance or accordance with set standards, thus, the said agencies are required to apply for Registration and License to Operate and Accreditation for their programs and services. This is to ensure the legitimacy and delivery of quality services to the target clientele of the SWDAs.

Solution and Impact

As a priority strategy for enhancing quality government services and in compliance with the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act (Republic Act No. 11032), the implementation of the DSWD e-Services is a significant contribution to efficiency in transactions and data management, and in the promotion of human rights and social development, particularly the protection and welfare of the target clientele or beneficiaries of the Social Welfare and Development Agencies. Through the e-Services, the Department was able to cut down the costs and processing time of applications since clients are not required to visit DSWD to personally file their applications for travel clearance, Registration and Licensing of Social Welfare and Development Agencies, and Accreditation of Social Welfare and Development Programs and Services.

In the same way, the DSWD e-Services also provided a way for the clients to keep track of the status of their applications by sending updates or notifications. Applicant SWDAs are no longer troubled following up their applications as they are always being updated through email notification or text messages relative to the status of their applications.

Milestones

The pilot implementation of DSWD e-Services operates in four regions, namely, National Capital Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and Davao for Travel Clearance Certificate for Minors Travelling Abroad while the Application for Registration, Licensing and Accreditation was piloted nationwide. Currently, the e-Services for MTA is being enhanced and will be launched in the 1st Quarter of 2020.