DSWD-7 to conduct 2nd round of household assessment in CV

BY: HAZEL F. GLORIA

CEBU CITY, April 16 (PIA) --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) will conduct the second round of household assessment for Listahanan: Talaan ng Pamilyang Nangangalinagan program in Central Visayas.

During the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) Forum yesterday, DSWD-7 regional information officer Leah Quintana said this is to update the “Listahanan” (list) so that they could determine who are those that really need help and support.

She also explained that “Listahan” is an information management system that provides data on socio-economic profile of poor households in the country.

“By utilizing this data, social protection programs and services both from national government agencies and other social protection stakeholders are provided to well-deserving beneficiaries,” she added.

During the first round of household assessment in 2009, DSWD-7 identified 314,654 poor households out of 781,572 households assessed in the region.

Cebu had the highest numbers of poor households with 151,425 while Negros Oriental had 88,550. For Bohol, the poor households identified were at 70,028 and Siquijor had 4,651.  

In targeting the poor, DSWD uses the Proxy Means Test (PMT), a statistical model that approximates family income based on 52 observable and verifiable proxy indicators of the family’s income such as materials used in housing structure, family’s access to basic services and facilities like water and electricity, and ownership of specific assets.

The second round of assessment will be conducted for one month to cover the 1,016,270 poor households in the region. The program will start after it will be given a go signal by President Benigno Aquino III.(mbcn/HFG/PIA-7)