LGUs, not DSWD, issue Christmas caroling permit

Christmas carolers can now sing to their hearts’ content after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clarified yesterday that carolers do not have to secure a permit from the agency.

“Caroling as a form of solicitation during Christmas shall not require a DSWD permit,” said Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

However, Cabral pointed out that local governments and neighborhood associations have the right to issue their own ordinances regarding caroling. This provision was clarified in the guidelines issued by DSWD on Jan. 27, 1999 to its 16 field offices, she added.

DSWD’s role in regulating the solicitation activities of individuals and corporations is mandated by various laws and issuances, Cabral said.

“The first is Presidential Decree No. 1564 or the Solicitation Permit Law, which provides that any person, corporation, organization or association desiring to solicit or receive contributions for charitable or public welfare purposes shall first secure a permit from the concerned regional offices of the DSWD,” she said.

Under Administrative Code of 1987 (Executive Order 292), the DSWD is also mandated to regulate fund drives, public solicitations and donations for charitable or public purposes.

Moreover, Executive Order 24 series of 2001 gives the DSWD the authority to grant authorization or disapprove requests for the conduct of national fund raising campaigns.

On the other hand, Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, gives the city and municipal mayors the authority to regulate the holding of activities for charitable and welfare purposes within their respective jurisdictions, excluding prohibited games of chance or shows contrary to law, public policy and public morals.

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

If the solicitation activity will be conducted in one LGU, the application for permit shall be directly filed at the office of the city or municipal mayor where the solicitation permit will be issued, the agency said.

Meanwhile, the concerned DSWD field office shall issue the solicitation permit if the activity will serve two or more cities or municipalities within the region, the DSWD said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Manuel Roxas II called on the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) and other concerned agencies to adopt measures to effectively check the increase in the prices of goods in the run-up to the Christmas season.

In a statement, Roxas said the prevailing price of chicken – which traditionally increases during the Christmas season – has already increased by six percent from P108 per kilo in March to P115 per kilo in September, as per data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics.

Already, the September price of chicken is 10 percent higher than the price in the same month last year of P105 per kilo.  – Helen Flores, Christina Mendez