DSWD supports adoption of digital payments

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that it supports the order of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on the adoption of digital payments for all government transactions in pursuit of  more efficient and effective delivery of services, as well as expediting its processes.

Prior to the signing of Executive Order No. 170, the Department has already implemented a safe transaction account through a deposit account or e-wallet/e-money for the distribution of cash grants and other financial transactions for the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Likewise, the Department has entered into a partnership with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to integrate the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys)-enabled services in the implementation of its programs as part of its overall plan for the digital transformation of social protection programs. The PhilSys adoption will enable faster eligibility checks and enable digital payments that will provide better and multiple access points for its beneficiaries to receive social assistance.

Currently, the DSWD continues to distribute the cash card of beneficiaries of the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Programs to ensure the swift, convenient, and safe delivery of financial assistance. These include beneficiaries of the social pension program and UCT for poor households.

It can be recalled also that the Department tapped some Financial Service Providers including bank, and e-wallet services for efficient disbursement of the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program last 2021.

Meanwhile, the DSWD intends to engage with other service providers or payment facilities as another means of delivery of the social protection packages among its beneficiaries.

The DSWD continues to explore further interventions toward the digitization of the agency following the national government’s thrust for an inclusive financial system. ###