(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 27 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the eastern section of the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies / Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.


Monday, December 19, 2022

DSWD Caraga highlights advantages of Listahanan Year 3 database

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga presented the results of the Listahanan Year 3 Database, in time with its regional launching held on Tuesday, December 13 at Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center, this city.

DSWD Caraga Regional Director Mar-flor Dollaga-Libang, bared that the Listahanan 3 database contains the record of poor households that is the reference in the delivery of social protection programs and services to the Agency’s beneficiaries.

“The launching means that the DSWD Field Office Caraga is now prepared to share the database to stakeholders – government agencies; government-owned and controlled corporations; local government units; non-government organizations; and private foundations and organizations,” bared Libang.

On behalf of Agusan del Norte Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante, provincial administrator Elizabeth Calo, expressed strong support for the establishment of the Listahanan 3 database. She elaborated that the Listahanan is indeed reliable and that the provincial government has been utilizing it as a tool in assessing the needs of their constituents especially the poor households.

“Social services generates the biggest challenge in budget appropriation of LGUs and that is the case in Agusan del Norte. We appropriate more than 80% of our budget and always an item in our supplemental budget. Therefore with the Listahanan, it is a welcome development for us to be given opportunities to make use of a very significant tool that will guide us in our plans. This is a database that is cost-free,” Calo said.

Representing Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada, Councilor Victor Vicente Plaza, elaborated that the DSWD’s Listahanan will be free from accusations of politicking or of favoring certain groups during distribution of grants and services to target beneficiaries.

“Having a comprehensive profile of the poor gives us the complete details on the demographic and the number of people that we should look into and be given priority consideration to be accommodated for all social interventions aimed to alleviate the quality of their living,” added Plaza.

Meanwhile, Regional Director Alexander Makinano of the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Caraga, highlighted that those who are considered to be on the lower economic profile with the lesser educational attainment should be prioritized and be provided with the responsible parenthood and family planning services. “This is exactly why we are using the Listahanan 1.2 and soon Listahanan 3,” he bared.

Makinano further revealed that the resources of the government are insufficient to address the needs and demands of the population. “That is why we use segmentation strategy for our clients and prioritization of our initiatives. As we plan and implement projects, we need to consider who are greatly and mostly affected sectors of the population. This is where exactly the substance, the content and the need of Listahanan would become a great and primary source,” he said.

Representing Regional Vice President Michael Jibson Hernandez of Philippine Health (Philhealth) Insurance Corporation Caraga, ARDO Jane Santos relayed that for more than a decade, Philhealth utilizes Listahanan as all that were identified from the database are automatically enrolled in their program. 

“We have allocated a budget for Listahanan identified poor households. We are really grateful that Listahanan 3 is now available. We will be utilizing this for our 2023 renewal for Universal Health Care,” she said.

A commitment signing was also conducted by DSWD Caraga, together with heads and representatives from other government agencies, local government units, media, and other sectors, as they expressed their support to the implementation of the social protection services and programs of the government for the vulnerable and marginalized sectors, as well as the utilization of the Listahanan 3 Database.

In his closing message, Atty. Faizal Padate, assistant regional director for administration of DSWD Caraga, urged all sectors to continue to work together and serve the best interest of the Caraganon people. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)