During the Listahanan Inter-Agency Dialogue and Press Conference held recently in Cagayan de Oro City, one of the highlights was the testimonial of PhilHealth 10 representative Mr. Marlon Arrabaca relative to their engagement with DSWD through a Memorandum of Agreement which sealed the agreement of sharing and utilizing Listahanan’s data in their Programs and services.

The National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or what is now known as Listahanan is an information management system that aims to establish a database of poor households that will become beneficiaries of social protection programs which is being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

By executing a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Government Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Non-Government Organizations, Local Government Units and Congressional Representatives would be able to utilize the data generated from the household assessments conducted.  These data can be useful in identifying and targeting the various sectors in society whom they can extend their various programs and services.  By utilizing the Listahanan data, services and programs both from the government and non-government organizations alike are guaranteed that they are given to well deserving clients and beneficiaries.

Before PhilHealth engaged with DSWD, he related that they used to hire enumerators and pay them P10 per family enumerated.  After they entered into a MOA with DSWD, they no longer had a hard time hiring and paying for enumerators since data is readily available for them.

PhilHealth’s strategy before also includes that of approaching LGUs to ask for the list of poor families in the different municipalities, cities, and provinces. Listings then he stressed, were not that credible considering that politicians always have a say in these “lists” and there is always a tendency that their data were being manipulated.

In utilizing the Listahanan data shared to them, Philhealth now have a barometer on how far they have covered the poor families in the region.  Another significant effect is that of lessening their engagements with Local Chief Executives making them less susceptible to be under the whims and caprices of politicians.

Indeed he said, PhilHealth is grateful and assured that the data they are utilizing is credible  and not influenced by politicians.  (Mitzie Santiago)