THE Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD-CAR) said they are putting in more effort to include Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the region as beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).
"We recognize the fact that there are significant Indigenous Peopls na hindi po napasama sa regular CCT," Irene Bungay, Pantawid Pamilya Regional Project Coordinator, told media recently.
She said the agency may have missed out on these IPs during the targeting or listing because they reside in inaccessible areas.
But with the significant number of IPs in the region, she said the DWSD regional offices realized the need to include them in the program.
"We want to give the opportunity na sila din naman ay mapasama sa poverty alleviation programs ng government," she said.
The regional office now endeavors targeting or listing of potential beneficiaries from the indigenous communities who are in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
Bungay said this effort is still in the starting stage because social preparations are still ongoing.
Initially, DSWD-CAR identified and visited three areas in the region to conduct group discussions and assessment to the potential beneficiaries. These areas are in Balbalan, Kalinga; Tinoc, Ifugao; and Lacub, Abra.
From the number of potential beneficiaries, Bungay expressed the office hope they can enroll majority of them in the CCT as it will be a big help to the IPs in the region.
The DSWD-CAR will continue its effort in reaching out to the IPs even in inaccessible areas to make sure they are provided the same opportunity as any other Filipinos to benefit on poverty alleviation programs such as the CCT.
Listahan or previously known as the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction determined that 46,047 or 76% percent of the 60,372 assessed poor households in the Cordillera belong to the Indigenous Peoples group.