Close to 500,000 poor households in Central Visayas identified

CEBU, Philippines —  An official of the National Household Targeting Office has encouraged different partner stakeholders to utilize the Listahanan 3 database so that the resources and funds will be spent helping the rightful beneficiaries.

The Central Visayas Regional Launching of Listahanan 3 database of the Department of Social Welfare and Development was recently held.

NHTO Director Mona-Liza O. Vizorde said this Listahanan launching is a very significant event because it is the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and sacrifices of our DSWD staff, especially their hired area coordinators, area supervisors, and field enumerators who went beyond and above in getting the right data.

The event was participated by various national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), partner non-government organizations (NGOs), and academe.

“With the Listahanan 3 poverty database validated, the Department has now deemed it ready for sharing with other national government agencies, local government units, and other organizations which implement social protection programs and services,” added Vizorde.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero presented the results of the Listahanan 3 household assessment.

The third assessment identified a total of 453,961 poor households in the region, identified 84,343 poor households in Bohol; 220,122 poor households in Cebu; 146,669 poor households in Negros Oriental; and 2,837 poor households in Siquijor.

“The household was assessed based on their composition, the household members’ highest educational attainment and occupation, features of the housing structure and access to basic services or facilities like water, electricity, and sanitary toilet, households’ ownership of assets, tenure status of housing among others,” said Lucero.

Lucero added that all collected information from the household went through a process using a scientific method called Proxy Means Test or PMT.

PMT is a statistical model that estimates the income of a household based on the variables included in the household assessment form.

Households with estimated incomes that are above the latest provincial poverty thresholds are considered non-poor and those with estimated incomes falling below the poverty thresholds are considered poor.

“DSWD cannot do the gargantuan task of improving the lives of many. We need to strengthen our partnership so that we could help more poor families alleviate their social conditions. And we could start this by using Listahanan,” underscored Lucero.

The Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) is an administrative tool that identifies who and where poor households are in the country.

Based on Executive Order No. 867, series of 2010, it mandates all NGAs to use the Listahanan for their social protection programs and services.

The Listahanan is the third round of household assessment that started its preparation phase in 2019. — GMR (FREEMAN)