The Department of Social Welfare and Development through the Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTSPR) is now on its preparation stage for the launching of the Latest Database ofthe Profile of the Poor nationwide.

The database is the result of the conducted Second Round Household Assessment done last year.

The National Household Targeting System is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are.  The system makes available to national government agencies and other social protection stakeholders a database of poor families as basis in identifying potential beneficiaries of social protection programs and services.

Consistent with Executive Order 867, the updating of the Listahanan /NHTSPR database of poor families is done every four (4) years thereafter.  The first Round Assessment was conducted in 2009 where 338,749 households were identified as poor in the region.

For the Second Round Assessment, a total of 858, 804 households were assessed in Northern Mindanao in which 28% of the total enumerated households were made possible through tablet –aided assessment and 72% were enumerated through pen and paper assessment.

With the launching of the new and updated Listahanan database, it is expected that more Agencies, organizations and stakeholders will engage with the Department through a Memorandum of Agreement for the utilization of the Listahanan data in the implementation of their programs and services.

The National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction or Listahanan , aims to contribute to the rationalization of the government’s social protection programs that would lead to an equitable distribution of resources and services to the poor.

Written by Mitzie S. Santiago, DSWD