Standards Bureau of DSWD

Undersecretary Denise Florence Bernos-Bragas, MD, RSW of the Regulatory Services, and Institutional Development Group (RSIDG) led the consultation meeting with the National Area-Based Standard Network (ABSNet) on regulatory guidelines on May 11, 2026 (Monday) at the RSIDG Conference Room, DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.

The meeting, which was also joined virtually by the other National ASBNet officers, aims to present an overview of the DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 09, Series of 2026 or the “Pilot Implementation Guidelines for the Cost of Care Subsidy through Private Residential Social Work Agencies (SWAs).”

It also served as a platform for consultation, enabling the gathering of comments and recommendations from ABSNet Officers on both the Social Welfare and Development Agencies Regulation Act (SWDA Bill) and the DSWD MC 9, s.2026 guidelines.

Officials present during the meeting were Assistant Secretary for RSIDG Janet P. Armas, CESO IV; Standards Bureau Director IV, Atty. Megan Therese Y. Manahan; and National ABSNet Chairperson Fr. Arnold Abelardo, CMF; Vice-Chairperson for Luzon, Ms. Mylene Lagman; and Secretary, Ms. April P. Castillo.

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Mas Mabilis na Akreditasyon, Mas Mabilis na Serbisyo sa Mamamayan!

Nagpasalamat si DSWD Secretary REX Gatchalian kay Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa paglagda sa Executive Order No. 117, na naglalayong gawing mas simple, mabilis, at episyente ang proseso ng akreditasyon para sa mga organisasyong nagbibigay ng serbisyong panlipunan.

Sa ilalim ng EO 117, ang DSWD na ang magsisilbing pangunahing ahensya na magbibigay ng opisyal na pagkilala o accreditation sa mga social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs). Dahil dito, hindi na kailangang pumunta pa ng mga organisasyon sa iba’t ibang tanggapan para makuha ang kanilang donee institution status.

Binigyang-diin ng Kalihim na malaking ginhawa ito lalo na sa maliliit na organisasyon na may limitadong pondo, dahil mababawasan ang kanilang gastos at oras sa pagproseso ng mga kinakailangang dokumento.

Sa pamamagitan ng mas pinadaling sistema, mas mabilis na makukuha ng mga organisasyon ang kanilang tax exemptions, na magagamit nila para higit pang mapalawak ang kanilang serbisyo sa mga pamilyang nangangailangan.

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https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DsAXjaB4j/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Mas Mabilis na Akreditasyon, Mas Mabilis na Serbisyo sa Mamamayan!

Nagpasalamat si DSWD Secretary REX Gatchalian kay Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa paglagda sa Executive Order No. 117, na naglalayong gawing mas simple, mabilis, at episyente ang proseso ng akreditasyon para sa mga organisasyong nagbibigay ng serbisyong panlipunan.

Sa ilalim ng EO 117, ang DSWD na ang magsisilbing pangunahing ahensya na magbibigay ng opisyal na pagkilala o accreditation sa mga social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs). Dahil dito, hindi na kailangang pumunta pa ng mga organisasyon sa iba’t ibang tanggapan para makuha ang kanilang donee institution status.

Binigyang-diin ng Kalihim na malaking ginhawa ito lalo na sa maliliit na organisasyon na may limitadong pondo, dahil mababawasan ang kanilang gastos at oras sa pagproseso ng mga kinakailangang dokumento.

Sa pamamagitan ng mas pinadaling sistema, mas mabilis na makukuha ng mga organisasyon ang kanilang tax exemptions, na magagamit nila para higit pang mapalawak ang kanilang serbisyo sa mga pamilyang nangangailangan.

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A huge thank you to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for issuing EO No. 117!

Streamlining the accreditation system for donee institutions and designating the DSWD as the sole accrediting entity for Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs) is a major step toward efficiency.

This will allow SWDAs to focus more on their mission: serving the people.

🛠️ 𝗗𝗦𝗪𝗗 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣𝗦 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 🛠️

This is to inform you that the DSWD Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS) is currently unavailable for some services.

Thus, this hereby serves as an announcement that pending applications encountering system issues will be processed manually.

For issues and concerns on pending applications, please email us at: [email protected] so that we can assist you accordingly.


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As part of the pilot implementation of the Cost of Care Subsidy, the Standards Bureau (SB) organized an online orientation cm workshop with the Standards Section Staff of the DSWD Field Offices on May 4 to 5, 2026.

Participants received an in-depth knowledge on the policies, procedures, and expectations outlined in the newly-approved guidelines prior to its implementation.

The DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 09 series of 2026 or the “Pilot Implementation Guidelines on the Cost of Care Subsidy Through Private Residential-Based Social Work Agencies” aims to provide fund augmentation to registered, licensed, and accredited private residential-based SWAs to cover the "cost of care" the beneficiaries.

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𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗮𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻, 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗰. 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘀-𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘀, 𝗠𝗗, 𝗥𝗦𝗪!

Ang inyong dedikasyon sa paglilingkod sa bayan ay tunay na nagbibigay-inspirasyon sa bawa’t isa. Dalangin namin ang patuloy ninyong tagumpay at kaligayahan habang ipinagpapatuloy ninyo ang inyong mahalagang misyon na itaguyod ang kapakanan ng mga nangangailangan.

Mula sa iyong Standards Bureau Family!

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𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲!

Who’s really giving the 'main character' vibe?✨

❤️ Gen Z supremacy!
😮 Millennial classics!

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📣𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 2 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗖 7, 𝘀. 2025📣

Public and private residential-based Social Work Agencies catering to children shall be given two (2) months to finalize the submission of all requirements and documents for DSWD licensing and accreditation and NACC’s Certification of Adoption and Alternative Child Care (AACC) Programs and Services.

Check out the key activities of the Phase 2 implementation of DSWD MC No. 7, Series of 2025.

🗓️ 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Mandate: In compliance with MC 7, S. 2025
For more details: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CRGXBDeiN/?mibextid=wwXIfr


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📢𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀!📢

We have updated the list of Private Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs), Government Agencies, Organizations, and Individuals with 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁, as of April 27, 2026.

Check the infographics below or visit the official directory to verify an organization through this link:
🔗https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LsNJpV-WZeWvVLR6Vv6dL1qEsPpnHN28/view?usp=sharing

For organizations and individuals interested to apply for a Public Solicitation permit, visit the DSWD HELPS portal at: 🔗https://helps.dswd.gov.ph/

Don’t fall in line, go online!



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On April 23-24, 2026, the DSWD Standards Bureau (SB) held a two-day virtual orientation cm workshop focused on the Memorandum Circular No. 09 series of 2026 “Pilot Implementation Guidelines of the Cost of Care Subsidy through Private Residential-Based Social Work Agencies (SWAs)”, marking a shift toward a more agile and person-centered social welfare framework.

The virtual session, held via Google Meet, gathered SB staff to master the mechanics of a landmark shift in Departmental policy: the transition from solely expanding government-run facilities to actively partnering with the private social work agencies.

Inspired by the vision of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the DSWD is moving away from its traditional focus on the physical expansion of DSWD Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCFs). Instead, the Department is now tapping into the existing infrastructure and expertise of Private Residential-Based SWAs.

Ms. April M. Penaflor, Social Welfare Officer IV and Ms. Elaine M. Satira, Project Development Officer II of the SB discussed that registered, licensed, and accredited private SWAs will be eligible for government financial support, covering either the full or partial cost of care. These subsidies allow the DSWD to ease overcrowding in state facilities by transferring clients to qualified and approved private partners. The session defined exactly what private agencies must do to qualify for and maintain subsidy status. Following this, Ms. Dolores G. Bumanlag, Officer-in-Charge of the Accounting Division for Regular Programs of the Finance Service outlined the technical requirements for fund disbursement and the mandatory liquidation procedures to ensure transparency.

As the primary office responsible for monitoring social welfare and development standards, the Bureau’s mastery of these guidelines is critical. The two-day session ensured that staff are fully equipped to oversee the process flow, from the initial selection of partner agencies to the final delivery of care, before the official nationwide implementation begins.

By bridging the gap between public oversight and private expertise, the DSWD aims to transform the "Cost of Care" into an investment in the dignity and well-being of the nation’s most vulnerable sectors.

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