MASBATE CITY—Recognizing the need to further enhance their programs and services for the poor, the Local Government Units (LGU) of Uson and Aroroy in Masbate province signed the Data Sharing Agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V through the National Household Targeting Section (NHTS).

Entering the agreement gives them access to the updated data of poor households as a basis for choosing qualified beneficiaries for their social protection programs and services for the poor.

On Thursday, November 16, 2023, the Listahanan Regional Project Management Office (RPMO) led by NHTS head Joy C. Belen III personally met with Uson Municipal Administrator Armeda C. Manlapaz to discuss the Listahanan data sharing guidelines including the presentation of the recent magnitude of poor in the said town.

Manlapaz expressed her appreciation after the presentation admitting she was enlightened by the discussion and was able to clarify some misconceptions.

“We are so happy that we will now have access to this data that will become a useful tool to give even better services to our poor constituents”, she added.

Listahanan 3 data shows that Uson is sixth among the 21 municipalities in the province as to the magnitude of poor with 6,078 identified poor households.

On the same day, the team also met with Aroroy Mayor Arturo B. Virtucio; Municipal Administrator and Data Protection Officer Fhernee J. Lim; and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Aillen Panganiban.

Virtucio said that by having the updated Listahanan data with them, they can have a reliable basis for the selection of deserving beneficiaries free of any political color. The local chief executive cited some previous incidents in which politicians only selected their supporters for their programs.

Of the 96,499 poor households in the province, Aroroy town has the highest magnitude with 10,245 poor households assessed under the Listahanan 3.

Uson and Aroroy were the second and third local government units in Masbate to enter into a data-sharing agreement respectively. Palanas was first after signing the agreement last August 2023.

The Listahanan 3 data is the most updated database of poor households assessed in 2019. It was launched only in December 2022 due to the pandemic.