DSWD receives donations by text, Internet

MANILA, Philippines - International donors can now send cash donations to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) via text message or the Internet.

Social Welfare Undersecretary Celia Yangco recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Globe X-Change Inc. (GXI) and the National Computer Center (NCC) for the implementation of the e-Donation Management System.

Yangco said the system aims to provide the donor community a more convenient and cost-effective option of giving cash donations through the use of SMS (short messaging service) or text messaging, as well as the Internet.

“It is a custom-designed turnkey solution that delivers, manages, and reconciles contributions and donations via text and online transactions, working on a banking industry-standard ICT (information and communications technology) security environment, and a stable and scalable database system,” Yangco explained.

She said this system takes the nature of an electronic payment system that is efficient and transparent, as well as fully secured and compliant with accounting and auditing rules and regulations governing public funds received through donation.

“DSWD’s partnership with said companies will surely enhance our strategies in business procedures through the use of ICT. Moreover, it is important that we keep up with modern technology to ensure that the department continues to provide faster and better services to the sectors that we serve,” Yangco said.

Last year, the Department of Finance exempted from all duties and taxes donations being sent by overseas individuals and organizations to the DSWD.

Included in the list of tax- and duty-free goods and commodities needed by disaster victims are rice, beans and other dry rations, ready-to-eat meals, canned meats and fish, beddings, kitchen and eating utensils, items of personal hygiene such as bath soap and toothpaste, emergency and life-saving equipment and supplies, power supplies and water purification equipment, among others.

Based on Section 105 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, the institutions that are allowed to receive donations from abroad are non-profit, welfare, religious, and charitable organizations that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and duly licensed by the DSWD.