Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has assured the public that the agency’s newly-launched Kaagapay Donations Portal will help curb public solicitation scams.

According to Philippines News Agency, the portal is fully vetted by the DSWD Standards Bureau, in coordination with Kaagapay, the partnerships group. Director Megan Therese Manahan of the Standards Bureau explained that the portal is clean, monitored, and regulated, offering a trusted one-stop shop for donations. This initiative aims to deter scams and provide a secure platform for public use.

Manahan emphasized that the department would closely monitor social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs) included in the Kaagapay portal. These SWDAs comprise private organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs), and civil society organizations (CSOs) that deliver essential services to vulnerable sectors. Only SWDAs with certification for registration, license to operate, and accreditation from the DSWD, along with a public solicitation permit and corporate accounts, will be listed on the portal.

The DSWD plans to assist SWDAs not yet on the Kaagapay portal through roadshows by the Standards Bureau and the Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization Office. These roadshows will promote the Harmonized Electronic License Permit System (HELPS) and the donations portal, while featuring payment gateway partners like Landbank of the Philippines, GCash, and Maya to aid SWDAs in setting up corporate accounts.

The Kaagapay Donations Portal is a digital project launched during the DSWD’s 74th anniversary celebration. It aims to provide donors with a simple and convenient way to lodge their contributions, ensuring quick and transparent delivery to beneficiaries. The portal’s dashboard offers a real-time overview of donations raised and the number of donors, ensuring transparency for public scrutiny.