“Saro sa mga achievement ko sa buhay ko ang naging part ako ng Listahanan” (One of my achievement in my life is to be part of the Listahanan) proudly says Elma.

A skilled interviewer coming from the Social Weather Station (SWS) and National Statistics Office, Elma, 37, started as an Area Supervisor with the DSWD during the first round of assessment in 2009.

During the second round of assessment in 2015, she was again engaged with the department as Area Coordinator.
As an AC, her main function is to oversee the activities of the assessment from the preparatory to validation phase such as facilitator/resource person during the training, conduct provincial LGU orientation, supervising the shipment of supplies and materials, coordination with the local officials etc.

When asked why she opted to apply again as field worker though she already has a bookkeeping firm.

“Naenjoy ko siya( as field interviewer) kasi nakakabot ako sa iba ibang lugar tapos yung experience mo na may nakakaistorya kang iba ibang tawo tapos nachachallenge ka pano magdiskarte na nasa iba kang lugar bako ka familiar and may kaiba kang mga tawo na yung security ninda nakasalalay saimo”. (I enjoyed being a field interviewer because I can go to different places and experience to associate with people from all walks of life. I also feel challenged on how to strategize when I’m into a place not familiar with and take full responsibility of my team).

Elma is one of the 2,966 field staff employed by the DSWD in the recent household assessment. This covers the whole Bicol Region assessing 1, 087, 720 households.

Listahanan is an information management system that aims to establish a database of poor households that will become beneficiaries of social protection programs.

A noble leader

Having 5 Area Supervisors and 25 Enumerators, Elma ensures the quality output of her team by doing regular spot checking and monitoring in the field.

She strictly oversee the conduct of assessment activities to safeguard that the data gathered by the team is complete, accurate, and reliable

She plans everything by doing a weekly schedule so that she can monitor her team.

According to them, Elma is strict yet a motivator and a friend. She never fails to ask her team how they are doing and provide technical assistance when needed.

She sets a good example to her co-workers and committedly serve the people.

“I enjoyed working with Listahanan because although I’m not giving money to them, my effort to get the accurate data is enough which might lead them to be potential beneficiaries of any program. That’s something to be proud of that once I’m part of it.” proudly says Elma

She’s a woman with principle and stands for what is right.

One of her big contributions to the Regional Project Management Team of Listahanan is the formulation of guides for the field staff like the common errors in filling out the Family Assessment Form (FAF), the common occupation in the PSOC and Tagalog guide questioners for the enumerators.

These guides helped a lot to the staff, especially to the new field worker. She also imparted her experiences and unselfishly shared her strategies and techniques during the training.

Her dedication and passion for work greatly contribute to the success of the implementation of the project.
Furthermore, she also maintains close coordination with the local officials and facilitates immediate resolution of issues and concerns on the conduct of the assessment.

“Our engagement with Listahanan might be short but surely major impact has been done in our society .Yes, it’s tiring to walk on mountains, cross the rivers yet very fulfilling experience, tearful and heart touching to see those less vulnerable people , risky yet very challenging and most of all worth remembering.”, Elma grins.##