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| DSWD supports President Duterte's decision to implement digital payments for all government transactions to improve service delivery and operations. Photo for representation only. |
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) stated that it supports President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's decision to implement digital payments for all government transactions to achieve more efficient and effective service delivery while also accelerating its operations.
Before the issuance of Executive Order No. 170, the Department had already established a safe transaction account via a deposit account or e-wallet/e-money to distribute cash awards and other financial transactions for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program recipients (4Ps).
As part of its overall plan to make social protection programs more digital, the Department has formed a partnership with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to use services made possible by the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) to run its programs.
PhilSys will allow for speedier eligibility checks and digital payments, providing better and more access points for its recipients to obtain social assistance.
Currently, the DSWD continues to send cash cards to beneficiaries of the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Programs to ensure the timely, convenient, and secure delivery of financial assistance. These include recipients of the social pension program and UCT for low-income households.
It should also be noted that the Department engaged some Financial Service Providers, including banks and e-wallet services, to ensure the efficient delivery of the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program in 2021.
Meanwhile, the DSWD plans to collaborate with other service providers or payment facilities to give social protection packages to its beneficiaries.
Following the national government's push for an inclusive financial system, the DSWD continues to investigate more actions aimed at digitizing the agency. —iTacloban