Some 251,812 households in Metro Manila affected by the incessant rains brought by the southwest monsoon, also known as “Habagat” that hit the countryin August 2012 are now undergoing householdassessment by the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR).

DSWD-NCR Regional Director Ma. Alicia S. Bonoan said that the validation of affected households started in December 2012 and will end in March 2013.  As of this writing, about 25,073 households in the city ofManila and 14,000 in Marikina City have been assessed.

“The assessment of ‘Habagat’-affected households is being done through household surveys, using the prescribed National Household Targeting System’s (NHTS) Household Assessment Form (HAF) and Household Pre-assessment Form (HPAF),” Bonoan explained.

“Special validations are alsodone to assess the needs of calamity affected areas and families.  The assessed households will go through Proxy Means Test for poor and non-poor identification,” Bonoan said.

Proxy Means Test is a statistical formula that estimates the income of households based on the proxy variables included in the household assessment form.

She added that some 75 families from Happyland, Brgy. 105 Tondo, Manila whose houses were damaged by two barges at the height of the strong rains and winds brought by ‘Habagat’ have been resettled to Southville 9 Resettlement in Baras, Rizal, in partnership with the National Housing Authority and the City of Manila.(DSWD Field Office-NCR Communications Office/1 February 2013) ###