Memorandum Circular No.

5 series of 2021

Guidelines in the Processing of

Regional and National
Public Solicit at ion Permit s
 W HAT IS DSW D
MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR
NO. 5 SERIES OF 20 21?
 DSW D MC NO. 5
SERIES OF 20 21
provides guidelines in the
regulation of Regional Monitoring of
Issuance of Solicitation
and National Public Solicitation Activities
Permits,
Solicitation

being conducted by persons, groups, corporations, organizations, or associations in

p h y s ic a l o r d igit a l a p p ro a c h fo r c ha rit a b le , p ub lic a nd s o c ia l we lfa re a c t ivit ie s in n o rm a l
s it u a t io n a nd d u rin g s t a t e o f e m e rge n c y / c a la m it y a s d e c la re d b y t he c o nc e rne d
a ut ho rit y o r go ve rnm e nt a ge nc y t o e ns ure t ra n s p a re n c y , a c c o u n t a b ilit y , a nd e ffic ie n t
fa c ilit a t io n o f s o lic it e d fu n d s t o it s b e n e fic ia rie s .
 LEGAL BASIS

19 7 8
Presidential Decree
N o . 156 4 k n o w n a s
t h e So lic it a t io n
P e rm it La w
 LEGAL BASIS

19 7 8
Presidential Decree
N o . 156 4 k n o w n a s Ma n d a t e d D SW D t o is s u e o r
t h e So lic it a t io n
P e rm it La w
d is a p p ro ve d a p p lic a t io n fo r
s o lic it a t io n p e rm it /s b y t h e
Re g io n a l O ffic e o f t h e D e p a rt m e n t ,
t o a n y p e rs o n , c o rp o ra t io n ,
o rg a n iza t io n , o r a s s o c ia t io n
d e s irin g t o s o lic it o r re c e ive
c o n t rib u t io n s fo r c h a rit a b le o r
p u b lic w e lfa re p u rp o s e s
 LEGAL BASIS

19 7 8
Presidential Decree
N o . 156 4 k n o w n a s
t h e So lic it a t io n
P e rm it La w

19 8 7
Exe c u t ive O rd e r
N o . 29 2 o r Th e
Ad m in is t ra t ive
Co d e
 LEGAL BASIS

Tit le XVI, Ch a p t e r 1, Se c t io n 3 It e m
19 7 8
Presidential Decree
13, s t a t e s t h a t "t o a c c o m p lis h
N o . 156 4 k n o w n a s D SW D m a n d a t e a n d o b je c t ive s , it
t h e So lic it a t io n s h a ll re g u la t e fu n d d rive s , p u b lic
P e rm it La w
s o lic it a t io n s a n d d o n a t io n s fo r
c h a rit a b le a n d w e lfa re p u rp o s e s )

19 8 7
Exe c u t ive O rd e r
N o . 29 2 o r Th e
Ad m in is t ra t ive
Co d e
 LEGAL BASIS

Tit le XVI, Ch a p t e r 9 , Se c t io n 20 s t a t e s
19 7 8
t h a t a n y p e rs o n , c o rp o ra t io n ,
Presidential Decree
N o . 156 4 k n o w n a s o rg a n iza t io n , o r a s s o c ia t io n d e s irin g
t h e So lic it a t io n t o s o lic it o r re c e ive c o n t rib u t io n s fo r
P e rm it La w c h a rit a b le o r p u b lic w e lfa re p u rp o s e s
s h a ll firs t s e c u re a p e rm it fro m t h e
Re g io n a l O ffic e s o f t h e D e p a rt m e n t

19 8 7
Exe c u t ive O rd e r
N o . 29 2 o r Th e
Ad m in is t ra t ive
Co d e
 LEGAL BASIS

19 7 8 19 9 8
Presidential Decree Se c t io n 3 (e ) o f t h e
N o . 156 4 k n o w n a s Exe c u t ive O rd e r N o . 15
t h e So lic it a t io n s e rie s o f 19 9 8 (Re d ire c t in g
P e rm it La w t h e F u n c t io n s a n d t h e
O p e ra t io n s o f t h e D SW D )

19 8 7
Exe c u t ive O rd e r
N o . 29 2 o r Th e
Ad m in is t ra t ive
Co d e
 LEGAL BASIS

19 7 8 19 9 8
Presidential Decree Se c t io n 3 (e ) o f t h e
N o . 156 4 k n o w n a s Exe c u t ive O rd e r N o . 15
t h e So lic it a t io n s e rie s o f 19 9 8 (Re d ire c t in g
P e rm it La w t h e F u n c t io n s a n d t h e
O p e ra t io n s o f t h e D SW D )

Ma n d a t e s D SW D t o re g u la t e
19 8 7 fu n d d rive s , p u b s o l, d o n a t io n
Exe c u t ive O rd e r d rive s fo r So c ia l W o rk p u rp o s e s
N o . 29 2 o r Th e a lo n g Lo c a l Go vt Co d e o r
Ad m in is t ra t ive
Co d e Ad m in Co d e o f 19 8 7
 LEGAL BASIS

19 7 8 19 9 8
Presidential Decree Se c t io n 3 (e ) o f t h e
N o . 156 4 k n o w n a s Exe c u t ive O rd e r N o . 15
t h e So lic it a t io n s e rie s o f 19 9 8 (Re d ire c t in g
P e rm it La w t h e F u n c t io n s a n d t h e
O p e ra t io n s o f t h e D SW D )

19 8 7 20 0 1
Exe c u t ive O rd e r
Exe c u t ive O rd e r
N o . 29 2 o r Th e
N o . 24 s e rie s o f
Ad m in is t ra t ive
20 0 1
Co d e
 LEGAL BASIS

19 7 8 19 9 8
Presidential Decree
MaNno .d156 a t4 ek dn o wt hn aes D SW D Se c re Se t ac ry
t io n t3o(e ) o f t h e
Exe c u t ive O rd e r N o . 15
h a vet h et hSoelicfin a nl a u t h o rit y t os earieps po fro
it a t io 19 9ve
8 (Re d ire c t in g
P e rm it La w
o r d is a p p ro ve re q u e s t fo r t h e t h e F u n c t io n s a n d t h e
O p e ra t io n s o f t h e D SW D )
c o n d u c t o f n a t io n a l-le ve l fu n d
c a m p a ig n s
19 8 7 20 0 1
Exe c u t ive O rd e r
Exe c u t ive O rd e r
N o . 29 2 o r Th e
N o . 24 s e rie s o f
Ad m in is t ra t ive
20 0 1
Co d e
LEGAL BASES
Inter-Country Adoption Boa rd Res olution No. 054-46 s eries of 2010 (Addendum
to the Policy on Photolis ting of Children in the Internet)- uploa ding of children's
photo in the internet to s olicit is prohibited
Memora ndum Circula r No. 12 s eries of 2015, Guidelines on Fees a nd Cha rges

Republic Act No. 10847 s eries of 2016 (No. 3 of Section 4)- pres cribed a t lea s t
70% of funds a re dis burs ed to the beneficia ries
Republic Act No. 11032 s eries of 2018 known a s the Ea s e of Doing Bus ines s
a nd Efficient Government Services Delivery Act of 2018

Ba ya niha n to Recover a s One Act 1 a nd 2 or Republic Act Nos . 11469 a nd 11494

LEGAL BASES
Advisory from the DSWD Secretary:
Addenda to Memora ndum Circula r No. 5 s eries of 2021
This required a pplica nts for s olicita tion permits to s ubmit Certifica tion from Ba ra nga y,
Municipa l or City Government Office tha t they a re la w-a biding entities a nd not in a ny
ma nner connected, enga ged, or s upported a ny elements a ga ins t the government.

Inclus ion of dona tion buttons , 'where to dona te' ta b, or a ny a ppea l tha t ins inua tes
rea ders to give dona tion a s prohibited a ctivity if without the neces s a ry permit

Definitions of s us pens ion, revoca tion, non-renewa l, a nd bla cklis ting

 COVERAGE
So lic it a t io n a c t ivit ie s fo r c h a rit a b le ,
s o c ia l a n d p u b lic w e lfa re p u rp o s e s
All regional and national o f fo re ig n c o rp o ra t io n s o p e ra t in g in
fu n d c a m p a ig n s t h e P h ilip p in e s a s n o n -s t o c k , n o n -
c o n d u c t e d w it h in t h e p ro fit c o rp o ra t io n s .
ju ris d ic t io n o f P h ilip p in e s .

Th e a p p lic a t io n o f a n in d ivid u a l So lic it a t io n a c t ivit ie s c o n d u c t e d

s o lic it in g fu n d s fo r h is /h e r c h ild , u s in g t h e in t e rn e t a n d /o r t h e s o c ia l
re la t ive o r frie n d s u ffe rin g fro m m e d ia a n d s h a ll b e c o n s id e re d a s
c h ro n ic d is e a s e t h a t re q u ire s lo n g n a t io n a l in c o ve ra g e a s t h e y
t e rm a n d /o r e xp e n s ive m e d ic a t io n d is re g a rd g e o g ra p h ic a l lim it s .
 Organizations and agencies
c re a t e d b y la w t h a t
s p e c ific a lly c o n fe r t h e m w it h
a u t h o rit y t o s o lic it o r
c o n d u c t fu n d c a m p a ig n fo r
c h a rit a b le , s o c ia l a n d /o r
p u b lic w e lfa re p u rp o s e s
Un it e d N a t io n s (UN )
Ag e n c ie s , in s t ru m e n t s , a n d
EXEMP TIONS
m is s io n s a s c o ve re d b y t h e
UN c h a rt e r
So lic it a t io n a c t ivit ie s
c o n d u c t e d w it h in a n d
a m o n g o ffic e m a t e s , c la n
m e m b e rs , s o c ia l/c ivic g ro u p
o r a s s o c ia t io n s s u c h a s
a lu m n i a s s o c ia t io n s ,
fra t e rn it ie s o r s o ro rit ie s , e t c .
So lic it a t io n a c t ivit ie s fo r re lig io u s
p u rp o s e s (e .g . c o n s t ru c t io n o f
c h u rc h , m o s q u e o r a n y s t ru c t u re
fo r w o rs h ip ; e va n g e liza t io n o r
p ro p a g a t io n o f fa it h ; w e lfa re
p ro g ra m o f t h e c h u rc h o r
c o n g re g a t io n t o t h e ir m e m b e rs )
H o w e ve r, re lig io u s o rg a n iza t io n s
c o n d u c t in g s o lic it a t io n a c t ivit ie s
fo r c h a rit a b le a n d p u b lic w e lfa re
a c t ivit ie s s h a ll b e re q u ire d t o
s e c u re s o lic it a t io n p e rm it fro m t h e
D SW D .
So lic it a t io n a c t ivit ie s c o n d u c t e d
b y a n d w it h in
s c h o o ls /u n ive rs it ie s / c o lle g e s fo r
p u rp o s e s o f s u p p o rt in g s c h o la rs
Ca ro lin g d u rin g Ch ris t m a s a n d in fra s t ru c t u re p ro je c t
se a son s a n d oth e r
re lig io u s fe s t ivit ie s
 Solicitation activities of any form or methodology without the
n e c e s s a ry s o lic it a t io n p e rm it is s u e d b y t h e D SW D a n d /o r u s in g
t a m p e re d o r fra u d u le n t d o c u m e n t s

Us e o f s o lic it e d fu n d s t o p ro g ra m s , p ro je c t s o r a c t ivit ie s o t h e r t h a n
t h o s e s t a t e d in t h e ir p ro je c t p ro p o s a l, a n d /o r d is b u rs e m e n t o f
s o lic it e d fu n d s is n o t in a c c o rd a n c e w it h t h e fu n d u t iliza t io n ra t io

P ROHIBITED Us e o f s o lic it a t io n p a ra p h e rn a lia p o rt ra yin g d e m e a n in g

c o n d it io n o f t h e in t e n d e d b e n e fic ia ry in o rd e r t o in flu e n c e t h e
ACTIVITIES p u b lic t o p ro vid e d o n a t io n s .

Exp lo it ive m o b iliza t io n o f c lie n t s /b e n e fic ia rie s in t h e s o lic it a t io n

a c t ivit y

Th e s a le o f g o o d s fro m fo re ig n d o n o rs t h a t w e re d o n a t e d t o
in d ivid u a ls , g ro u p s , o rg a n iza t io n s , o r in s t it u t io n s a n d fa c ilit a t e d
fo r e xe m p t io n fro m t h e p a ym e n t o f g o ve rn m e n t t a xe s a n d d u e s
 Solicitation paraphernalia should highlight the
o rg a n iza t io n /a g e n c y's t h ru s t s , a c t ivit ie s a n d s u c c e s s e s

Th e s o lic it a t io n p a ra p h e rn a lia s h o u ld p ro t e c t a n d n o t
p o rt ra y a d e m e a n in g c o n d it io n o f t h e in t e n d e d
b e n e fic ia rie s in o rd e r t o in flu e n c e t h e p u b lic t o p ro vid e
d o n a t io n s
P HOTOLISTING

If t h e n e e d fo r a c t u a l p ic t u re is re q u ire d , t h e fo llo w in g
a re t h e a c c e p t a b le k in d o f p h o t o s :
a . P h o t o /s o f c h ild /c h ild re n , s e n io r c it ize n s , p e rs o n s
w it h d is a b ilit y o r o t h e r b e n e fic ia rie s t a k e n fro m a
d is t a n c e .
b . Ac t io n p ic t u re fo c u s e d o n t h e a c t io n o r m o ve m e n t
t a k e n in c lo s e ra n g e b u t n o t fo c u s in g o n t h e s u b je c t 's
fa c e .
 ISSUANCE
OF P ERMIT
Re gio n a l Fu n d Ra is in g Ca m p a ign Pe r m it

Na t io n a l Fu n d Ra is in g Ca m p a ign
Pe r m it

*m a y b e t e m p o ra ry d e p e n d in g o n t h e a p p lic a t io n
**In d ivid u a l a p p lic a n t m u s t h a ve a p a rt n e rs h ip w it h a SW D A a n d /o r e n d o rs e m e n t fro m t h e LSW D O
 ISSUANCE
OF P ERMIT
Scope of Where to File Permit to be Validity Processing Time
Solicitation Activity Issued

Under Normal Under State of Under Normal Under State of

Situation Calamity Situation Calamity

Within a Region DSWD Field Regional 6 months 3 months 7 days 3 days

Office Authority

More than one Region DSWD Central National 1 year 6 months 14 days 3 days
Office Authority
 ISSUANCE
OF P ERMIT
Re gio n a l Fu n d Ra is in g Ap p r o v e d a n d Sig n e d
b y t h e co n ce r n e d
Ca m p a ign Pe r m it Re g io n a l Dir e c t o r
Na t io n a l Fu n d Ra is in g
DSWD Se cr e t a r y
Ca m p a ign Pe r m it
REQUIREMENTS
REQUIREMENTS
REQUIREMENTS
REQUIREMENTS
 REQUIREMENTS

During a declaration of State of

Em e rg e n c y/Ca la m it y, a d u ly n o t a rize d
u n d e rt a k in g (An n e x 7 , 8 , o r 9 ) m a y b e
s u b m it t e d w h ile t h e a p p lic a n t is
c o m p lyin g w it h t h e o t h e r d o c u m e n t s .
 REGIO N AL P ERMIT

Normal situation: shall not exceed 6 months

Re g io n a l t e m p o ra ry p e rm it :
s h a ll b e va lid fo r 3 m o n t h s
VALIDITY &
EXTENSION
N ATIO N AL P ERMIT

N o rm a l s it u a t io n : va lid fo r 1 ye a r

Re g io n a l t e m p o ra ry p e rm it :
s h a ll b e va lid fo r 6 m o n t h s
 Issued solicitation permit shall be valid within the specified validity
p e rio d , m e t h o d o lo g y, a re a /s a n d c o ve ra g e in t h e P h ilip p in e s .

If va lid p e rm it w a s u s e d b y a n y o t h e r p e rs o n , o rg a n iza t io n o r a g e n c y
w it h o u t p rio r a g re e m e n t a n d n o t c o n n e c t e d w it h t h e p e rs o n /
o rg a n iza t io n is s u e d w it h t h e p e rm it , s h a ll re n d e r t h e s o lic it a t io n
p e rm it in va lid a n d s h a ll b e c o n fis c a t e d .

Te m p o ra ry p e rm it w h e t h e r re g io n a l o r n a t io n a l s h a ll b e va lid u n t il it
VALIDITY & e xp ire s , e ve n a ft e r t h e s t a t e o f e m e rg e n c y/c a la m it y is lift e d .
EXTENSION
Th e re q u e s t fo r e xt e n s io n o f t h e p e rm it 's va lid it y s h a ll b e s u b m it t e d
a t le a s t fift e e n (15) d a ys p rio r t o t h e e xp ira t io n o f t h e is s u e d
s o lic it a t io n p e rm it . B e yo n d t h is p e rio d , a p p lic a n t s fo r e xt e n s io n o f
va lid it y s h a ll b e a d vis e d t o in s t e a d a p p ly fo r a re n e w a l o f p e rm it .

Re n e w a l o f So lic it a t io n P e rm it s s h a ll b e fa c ilit a t e d u p o n t h e
c o m p lia n c e t o t h e p o s t -fa c ilit a t io n re q u ire m e n t s
 SOLICITATION ACTIVITIES USING
THE SOCIAL MEDIA

A National Solicitation Permit with a validity

p e riod b a se d on the sub m itte d p roje c t p rop osa l
b ut not to e xc e e d one ( 1) ye a r for a re g ula r
p e rm it or six ( 6 ) m onths for a te m p ora ry p e rm it
sha ll b e issue d b y SB up on sub m ission of
c om p le te a p p lic a tion d oc um e nts.
 FEES AND CHARGES

For the Regional Fund For the Na tiona l Fund

Ra ising Ca m p a ig n: Ra ising Ca m p a ig n Pe rm it

Five Hund re d Pe s o s One Thousand Pesos

( P 5 0 0 .0 0 ) ( P 1,000.00)
 AMENDMENTS
a. Amendment of solicitation permit may be applied for additional or change of
b e ne fic ia rie s , c ove ra g e , m e thod olog y, p rog ra m , p roje c t or s e rvic e to b e d e live re d a nd / or
e xte ns ion/ c ha ng e of va lid ity p e riod .

b . Sub m is s ion of Le tte r of Re q ue s t a nd a n Am e nd e d Proje c t Prop os a l ind ic a ting the c ha ng e s

c. Concerned DSWD Office to facilitate the issuance of an amended solicitation permit upon
surrender of the previously issued permit.

d . Am e nd m e nts s ha ll b e fa c ilita te d for Solic ita tion Pe rm its whe the r re g ula r or te m p ora ry
with re m a ining va lid ity p e riod of not le s s tha n thre e ( 3) m onths . Regional Temporary
Permits in consideration of their short validity period shall not be eligible for
amendments . Hence, applicants for regional temporary permit shall be advised to
instead apply for the renewal of their temporary permit .
Management
of Funds
 For program expenses: the ratio ranging from seventy to ninety -five
p e rc e n t (7 0 %-9 5%) a re re c o m m e n d e d

F o r a d m in is t ra t ive e xp e n s e s : five t o t h irt y p e rc e n t (5%-30 %) a re

re c o m m e n d e d

F u n d s c o lle c t e d d u rin g p u b lic s o lic it a t io n a re t o b e d e p o s it e d o n a

d e s ig n a t e d b a n k a c c o u n t a t a re p u t a b le b a n k o r b a n k in g
MANAGEMENT in s t it u t io n re g u la t e d b y t h e B a n k o Se n t ra l n g P ilip in a s . O t h e rw is e , a
OF FUNDS c o m p re h e n s ive B o o k o f P ro c e e d s s h a ll b e m a d e a va ila b le o r
s u b m it t e d t o t h e c o n c e rn e d D SW D O ffic e .

If t h e a ilin g p e rs o n b e n e fic ia ry o f s o lic it a t io n a c t ivit y p a s s e d a w a y

d u rin g t h e va lid it y o f t h e p e rm it , t h e e n d o rs in g SW D A o r LGU s h a ll
s u b m it a n In c id e n t Re p o rt t o t h e c o n c e rn e d D SW D - F ie ld O ffic e
w it h t h e c o rre s p o n d in g W o rk a n d F in a n c ia l P la n (W F P ) fo r t h e
d is b u rs e m e n t o f t h e u n u t ilize d s o lic it e d fu n d s .
 FORFEITURE
OF PROCEEDS
All donations or solicited funds from unauthorized public solicitation
shall, after conviction, be forfeited in favor of government or DSWD
registered, licensed and/or accredited charitable institutions such as
but not limited to children's centers, centers for women, and centers
for the elderly, centers for the persons with disability, etc.
 Penal
Provisions
 ON REPORTS OF VIOLATIONS
A ND UNPERM ITTED
S OLICITA TION

If a complaint is filed against a registered and/or licensed SWDA, this

shall be handled under the provisions of the Memorandum Circular
16 s. 2018.

As verified, the complaint against a person, group , corporation , or

association shall be encouraged to be put in writing and to be signed
by the complainant.
 ON REPORTS OF VIOLATIONS
A ND UNPERM ITTED
S OLICITA TION

The Standards Bureau of the Standards Section shall send notices/

;etters upon receipt of verified complaints and shall exhaust all
means of communication to give them the opportunity to comply
with the requirements of public solicitation.
Notices/ letters shall be sent as follows:
1st Notice- 7 working days after the receipt of the verified complaint
2nd Notice- 7 working days after the first notice
3rd and Last notice- 7 working days after the 2nd notice