(05/27/13) As part of the monitoring and reporting process, the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction BaSulTa region has conducted its post validation assessment cum stakeholder forum for the province of Sulu on May 23, 2013 at Jolo Area Coordination Center.

The activity aimed to communicate the validation results and status of data to project stakeholders and provide them opportunity to share vital information that has significant contributions to project monitoring, reporting and planning.

The one-day forum was participated by NGAs of BaSulTa such as the DILG, DTI, DOLE, DOST, Sulu Area Coordinating Center, Sulu PPDO, MSWOs and MPDCs of different municipalities in Sulu.

Among the issues and concerns brought out by the participants were the manipulation of LGUs in the assessment and validation process of the project, misconception that NHTS data are similar of that DOH and DepEd and the promising notion of the project that when a certain household is included in the list, that household will automatically be beneficiaries of social protection programs of the government like Philhealth and Pantawid Pamilya.

During the forum, NHTS-PR Focal Person Mr. Hasan B. Alfad emphasized that complaints regarding LGU manipulation of the list should be addressed directly to the Region IX Targeting Unit for appropriate action. Also he stressed out that NHTS-PR does not promise direct provision of social protection programs to poor households but it helps organization and agencies with social protection program identify beneficiaries accurately so that government resources are given to the people who need it the most.

National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) is an information management system implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to identify who and where the poor are in the country. (#LMSM)