The Provincial government of Lanao del Norte was one of the provincial government in region 10 who engaged into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development last year.
Upon executing a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the province of Lanao del Norte made full use of the Listahanan data entrusted to them.
Based on Administrative Order No. 2 series of 2009 and prior to the access and utilization of the Listahanan data by various LGUs, NGAs, CSOs, and various stakeholders, a Memorandum of Agreement should be made and undertaken between DSWD and the data user supported with an approved Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Resolution in order to ensure the confidentiality and usability of the requested data for the purposes agreed upon and between DSWD.
Listahananor what was formerly known as the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) is an information management system that the government uses in identifying who and where the poor are and is being spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. It aims to address poverty reduction through a scientific and target- focused strategy.
Lanao del Norte,known to be the “Land of Beauty and Bounty” boosts not only of its vast, arable agricultural lands but also of its fast- phased progress.
Utilization of the Listahanan data in the province of Lanao del Norte was manifested in the implementation of various programs and services in the province. One of which is in the Provincial Comprehensive Health Sector Reform Program whose main goal is that of ensuring the constituents access to quality health care as well as in the upgrading of health facilities all throughout the province.
Health programs included the expanded program on immunization,maternal and childcare, family planning/reproductive Health program,nutrition program, breastfeeding program, national tuberculosis program,rabies control program,malaria control program and environmental sanitation program.
In the conduct of outreach medical mission and free clinics in far flung areas in the province,the Listahanan data was also used as basis in identifying the areas and beneficiaries.
A total of 61, 406 indigent families also benefited from the Provincial Health Indigency Program, in which, basis in identifying beneficiaries was the Listahanan data.
In addition, the provincial government created the One Town One Program (OTOP) which is aimed towards enterprise development and product promotion of every town in Lanao del Norte. It is also used the Listahanan data in identifying the families who were prioritized for the capability building for enterprise and product development program.
Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo, Regional Director of DSWD Field Office X said this manifests that “the Listahanan data is more than just statistics and figures, if utilized accurately, could be very useful and significant as far as implementation of target-focused programs and services is concerned.”
Written by Mitzie S. Santiago, DSWD 10