As christmas nears: DSWD warns public vs. illegal solicitations

A month to go before Christmas, beware of illegal solicitations, says the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The DSWD warned the public against entertaining fraudulent solicitors who either call, e-mail, or knock on doors asking for donations to support fundraising projects.

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral, in an advisory, said that door-to-door fund solicitation without a permit from the DSWD is not allowed.

Cabral said that while it has become traditional for different organizations to conduct various civic activities and projects, the Solicitation Permit Law must be observed.

Presidential Decree No. 1564 or the Solicitation Permit Law signed on June 11, 1978 provides the DSWD with exclusive authority to regulate the solicitation, acceptance of donations or contributions for charitable or public welfare purposes.

Under the Solicitation Permit Law, any person, corporation, organization, or association desiring to solicit or receive contributions for charitable or public welfare purposes must secure a permit from the DSWD.

A DSWD solicitation permit is valid only in the Philippines. A permit for a national fund drive is valid for one year only.

A regional fund drive permit, on the other hand, is valid for three months.

The Solicitation Permit Law provides a penalty of imprisonment of not more than one year or a fine of not more than P1,000 or both, at the discretion of the Court, for soliciting donations or conducting fund drives without the proper permits.

If the offender is a corporation, organization or other juridical persons, the penalty shall be imposed on the guilty officials, employees or members. If the guilty person is an alien, that person shall be deported after serving sentence, without further proceedings. – Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV