Listahanan Caravan in Hagonoy, Davao Del Sur.

DAVAO City -The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is currently advocating to local government units the Listahanan or Talaan ng Pamilyang Nangangailangan for local officials to understand the system of targeting the poor households that should receive pro-poor programs and services.

Previously known as the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTSPR), the use of Listahanan nationwide has led to 3.8 million poor households enrolled in Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or the Philippine conditional cash transfer program, and the poor elderly receiving social pensions. It has also paved for thousands of health cards distributed with poor families availing of state-run health insurance.

Implemented by DSWD, Listahanan is a database of poor households and being used as reference in identifying beneficiaries of social protection services. It is a functional, objective and transparent targeting system that identifies who and where the poor are, thus reducing leakage of social services to non-poor and minimizing exclusion of the poor from said social services.

Listahanan likewise serves as guide to national government agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders in identifying qualified beneficiaries of their social protection programs.

With the Listahanan caravan conducted in different municipalities in Region XI, the DSWD National Household Targeting Unit has been extensively promoting the use of the database of poor households. “We are confident that our LGUs will appreciate the system and apply it in the implementation of their programs for poor famiies,” said Director Priscilla N. Razon of DSWD.

Included in the Listahanan caravan is the discussion of the phases on household assessment and the use of observable and verifiable characteristics of households.

During the caravan, issues and concerns especially of families not benefiting from DSWD programs like Pantawid Pamilya, Sustainable Livelihood and Social Pension, are raised and immediately responded to, Director Razon added.

In collaboration with local and national agencies and other stakeholders, Listahanan will definitely ensure that social protection programs benefit those who really need the assistance. DSWD