OPEN AND CLOSE. MDCs and the Department are partners that is why there should be close coordination with each other in implementing programs and services through open communication--Dir. Castillo.
OPEN AND CLOSE. MDCs and the Department are partners that is why there should be close coordination with each other in implementing programs and services through open communication–Dir. Castillo.

Partnership with the Local Government Units (LGUs) always leads to successful implementation of all programs and services for the poor and vulnerable clients.

 Thus, being underscored by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 1 (DSWD FO1) Regional Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo to all the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinators (MPDCs) of La Union and Pangasinan during the Consultation Dialogue on the Data Sharing Guidelines and Utilization conducted by the Listahanan Project or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), recently.

 According to Dir. Castillo, all activities of the Department would not be possible or pushed through without the support of the LGUs. That is why, sharing the Listahanan database to the MPDCs is one of the best ways to spread its usability by encouraging them to become data users through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

 Also he emphasized the urgency of entering into a MOA so that all the needy clients will be continuously served with appropriate social protection services. No need to delay because their name is today.

 All the MPDCs really recognize the need to enter into a MOA through their Municipal Mayors because they will have a more efficient, cost effective, and focused targeting of their potential social protection beneficiaries in their own municipalities.

 Dir. Castillo admitted that exclusion and inclusion errors cannot be avoided but with strengthened partnership and collaboration with all the stakeholders, these could be minimized for better service delivery to the needy. In that way, the integrity of the database is protected being the prime source of accurate, complete, and reliable data.

 Moreover, the Regional Focal Person Ms. Anniely J. Ferrer recognized the MPDCs as one of the key partners in the conduct of second round of Household Assessment in September this year.

 Having discussed and articulated to all the MPDCs the project’s background, objectives, systems and procedures, along with the guidelines in utilizing the database, they are most likely convinced to enter into a MOA through their Municipal Mayors with the DSWD. If this is so, they will be given access to the online Listahanan database. (by Jaesem Ryan A. Gaces, Administrative Assistant V, Listahanan/NHTS-PR)