The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) guarantees the public that the database of poor is objective and reliable. They said that all the data provided by the households during assessment were being subjected to Proxy Means Test (PMT) which estimates the income of the family.

DSWD-NCR Regional Director Ma. Alicia S. Bonoan explains, “Through PMT we were able to identify the poor and non-poor families. Thus, the initial result of the second family assessment was not based on any political influences,”

“As one of mechanisms to ensure that the database of the poor is reliable and complete, we are now conducting validation activities in Metro Manila wherein the families may check the initial list of poor families posted in their barangays. They can raise their concerns such as inclusion and exclusion of families in list. Those who have not yet been interviewed by our staff during actual enumeration may also appeal,” she continued.

Bonoan also shared that a Local Validation Committee (LVC) composed of City/ Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWDO), City/ Municipal Planning and Development Office (C/MSWDO), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) will be formed to resolve the grievances and complaints.

Listahanan is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are in the country. The system makes available to national government agencies (NGAs) and other social protection stakeholders a database of poor families as basis in identifying potential beneficiaries of social protection programs and services. ###