DSWD opens database of the poor

CEBU, Philippines - An available database on less-privileged Cebuanos may now be accessed by concerned groups.

The “Listahanan: Talaan ng Pamilyang Nangangailangan”, an information management system developed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development that contains names and locations of citizens living below the poverty line.

DSWD has recently turned over to Cebu Provincial Government through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office the electronic copy of Proxy Means Test (PMT) results and statistics covering the selected demographic profile of poor households in the province.

It was received by Governor Hilario Davide III.

This was preceded by the signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA) between DSWD and the provincial government for the data sharing.

The program aims to establish objective targeting system on the social protection programs and services to this sector with endeavours both by government agencies and civil society groups that focus their efforts on those living below poverty line.

Information available through the data base include respective barangay and municipality where the “poor household” resides as well as particulars like date of birth, age, type of toilet facilities used, water and electricity supply, and even PhilHealth membership.

Citizens whose occupation include farming and fishery were also listed in the same database and even unemployed individuals whose ages range from 15 to 60 years old.

The DSWD database identified 151,425 poor households in Cebu based on the data gathered in 2009 through the agency’s first household assessment.

A follow up household assessment will be done this year, according to DSWD.

Local government units in Cebu, which also inked a MOA with DSWD, were also furnished electronic copies of the database.

Apart from Cebu, Central Visayas provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental also signed the same MOA with DSWD for the same project.— (FREEMAN)