THE third National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), also known as Listahanan 3, of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has neared completion as it now goes through the Validation and Finalization Phase wherein initial lists of poor households (ILPH) are posted in barangays for community review.
The Listahanan 3, which was temporarily suspended due to the pandemic but resumed in June 2020, targeted over 15.6 million households to be assessed. Of which, more than 14.4 million Filipino households have been assessed to date by Barangay and Local Verification Teams.
The resumption was supported by Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution No. 65, which recognizes Listahanan as a critical government service and considers its field workers as authorized persons outside of residence, and, therefore, allowed for inter-zonal and intrazonal travels.
Meanwhile, the DSWD gives opportunity for the public through community validation to review, make corrections to their household information, and file appeals after the initial list has been posted. The department further ensures to resolve general inquiry, grievances on exclusion, inclusion complaints, requests for correction of information, and transfer of residence.
As of April 2021, the Department received over 3.67 million grievances nationwide.
Of this figure, 76.22 percent or more than 2.8 million appeals are subject to household re/assessments.
In terms of magnitude, Field Offices VI, Calabarzon, and XII remained to have the greatest number of grievances received across regions.
The DSWD targets to finish the complete process in the last quarter of the year 2021.
Once finalized, the Listahanan can help the government and stakeholders in the private sector identify deserving beneficiaries for their social protection programs and services. This is in accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 867, series of 2010, which mandates all national government agencies to use the Listahanan as the centralized database of poor households in the country
DSWD, however, clarifies that the list does not guarantee a household to be included in social protection programs.
Listahanan 2
Initially, the data gathered during the second Nationwide Household Assessment or Listahanan 2 was used as a reference by the Commission on Higher Education for the provision of Tertiary Education Subsidy to qualified beneficiaries. All identified poor households are likewise automatically enrolled in PhilHealth’s indigent program.
The DSWD also partnered with the World Food Programme (WFP) in the implementation of the latter's shock-responsive social protection programs.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources used Listahanan 2 data for its national fisheries program planning and prioritization in the provision of assistance and services to poor fishermen.
The DSWD itself utilized the database in targeting beneficiaries for its various programs and services, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens.
The department was also able to conduct a pilot off-site over-the-counter payout for the Unconditional Cash Transfer Program grants for some NCR beneficiaries by employing the Listahanan last July 2019.
The DSWD remains committed to coming up with a credible database so that those most in need of government assistance are reached and served accordingly.