SURIGAO CITY- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga through the National Household Targeting Section (NHTS) has successfully conducted its last leg of Stakeholders Orientation on Listahanan 3 Data Sharing on June 20, 2023 in RSY Building Bethlehem Hall, Surigao City.

The activity was attended by representatives from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (MSWDOs) and Municipal Planning and Development Offices in Surigao del Norte mainland and Province of Dinagat Islands.

Just like the stakeholders orientation conducted in other provinces in Caraga Region, the Profile of the Poor and the data sharing guidelines and requirements were presented by the NHTS staff.

During the open forum, some of the MSWD Officers shared their experiences in using the Listahanan database in the implementation of their initiated programs and services in their localities. They showed positive response and willingness to obtain the updated database.

“Mas dali sa amoa karun mag identify sa mga beneficiaries. Sama sa AICS nga gihatagan mi og 1000 ka slot. Akong gi-prioritize kadtong daghan og miembro sa pamilya ug dali rapud namu na identify kay pwede raman namu ma filter ang database then mugawas man dayon ang result. (Now that we have the database, it is easier for us to identify potential beneficiaries. Just like the recent AICS program we were given 1000 slots. What I did, I prioritized those who have the highest number of members in the family to avail the program. It is also easy to access the database because we can filter it using the application,” shared CSWDO Lenie Liray of Surigao City.

The LGU of Surigao City was the first LGU that received the electronic copy of the updated list of poor households on May 4, 2023. Another testimony was given by MSWDO Minerva Lumogdang of Bacuag were she highlight the usefulness of Listahanan database specially in issuing the Certificate of Indigency.

“Nindot gyud kaayo pag naa tay Listahanan database. Dako kaayo ni og tabang sa amoa ilabina nga daghan kaayo mangayo sa amoa og Certificate of Indigency. Naa man gyud program among mayor nga pag naa kay in-ana nga certificate, libre na ang pagpataud sa kuriente ug kasilyas. Ug kung wala mi basehan, awayon gyud mi sa mga tao. Mao nang hatagi  gyud ko anang Listahanan 3 kay nindot gyud ni. (It’s good if we have the Listahanan database. This is a big help for us specially that people often request for a Certificate of Indigency. Our mayor has programs that give free installation for electricity and toilet if you are indigent. If we don’t have bases this will led to argument. That is why, give us the database the soonest”, said MSWDO Minerva Lumogdang of Bacuag, Surigao del Norte.

MSWDO Mary Grace Escopete of Anao-aon, Surigao del Norte also gave her positive response in using the Listahanan database.

“The Listahanan is an appropriate database that fits the need of LSWDOs because we are implementing social protection programs and services. With Listahanan, we have legal basis and this will become our basis in identifying beneficiaries for our programs. I chose Listahanan because this is concrete and more specific and it also answers our needs as an implementers,’’ shared MSWDO Escopete.

With these interests, the NHTS team crafted a travel plan to ensure that all municipalities/cities will be visited and provided with technical assistance specially in complying the data sharing requirements. ###(Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga).