The Philippine Experience in the development and use of ListahananNational Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR)

Outline of the Presentation

•Listahanan and its Objectives•Listahanan 2 Project Cycle•Proxy Means Test•Households for On-Demand Application•Various Use Cases for Listahanan•Challenge

Project Cycle

Phase 2: Data

Collection and

Analysis

Phase 3: Validation

and Finalization

Phase

Phase 4: Report s

Generation Phase

Phase 1: Preparatory

PhaseListahanan is

conducted every four (4) years. 2019

is another enumeration year.

What is Listahanan? • Listahanan is an Information

Management system that identifies “who” and “where” the poor are.

• Listahanan uses the Proxy Means Test (PMT) to estimate household income.

• The output of the system is a national list of the poor household.

Why Listahanan?

• Formulate a uniform set of criteria for identifying poor families in the country.

• Ensure that benefits are given only to those who are deserving.

• Improve the design of social protection programs.

• Dept. Order No. 1, s. 2008

• National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Resolution No. 18, s. 2009

• Executive Order 867, s. 2010

Legal Bases

Listahanan 2 Assessment ProcessURBAN

RURAL

to generate HH

estimated

income

Data Collection

Encoding

Quality Control in terms of data collection & encoding

• Assessments were conducted inside the house. • Numbered stickers were posted on the front of the house as

proof of assessment.• Supervision ratio was 1 is to 5.• Area Supervisors reviewed FAFs and conducted 5 re-interviews

of households assessed by their enumerators.

• Mobile and computer encoding applications (offline and online) with validation routines and duplicate checker were used to ensure quality of data.

• Hired verifiers to check the accuracy of data encoded and transmitted to the server

Household Assessment & Encoding

Data Validation and Finalization Phase

1. Posting of the initial list of poor households for validation

2. Conduct of validation and on-demand application

3. Complaints and appeals resolution by Local Verification Committee

4. Finalization of List

Proxy Means Test• PMT is a statistical model that estimates HOUSEHOLD INCOME based

on non-income, non-food, non-cash variables such as educationalattainment of household members, housing materials, andemployment, among others.

• In preparation for the 2nd round of assessment, the DSWD enhancedthe PMT to reduce the exclusion and inclusion error rates andsharpen the poverty targeting methodology.

How did we identify poor households using the PMT?

• We estimated the household’s per capita income based on data from various non-income variables collected from the family assessment form.

=+ + …

How does PMT work?• We classified households to poor & non-poor using the per capita

poverty threshold as reference and comparing with estimated household income derived from the PMT.

= P12,500.00

= P10,500.00Poverty threshold

P10,969.00

= P8,500.00

NON-POOR

POOR

Listahanan: from the perspective of the People and Politicians

People

• No reaction at first (conduct of Listahanan 1)

• Overwhelmingly received (conduct of Listahanan 2)

Politicians

• Varied reaction (some supports it, other don’t)

• Others questions its validity

In all of these,DSWD’s message is clear: fair means of identifying who are the poor!

No political bias, same yardstick for all where ever you are in the country

Quick Fact: Listahanan 2015

Title Result

Total number of Household enumerated

15.1 Million (1st round) 15.2M after on Demand Assessment

Total Number of Poor Household

5.1M poor HH

Total Number of HH in the Philippines

Approximately 20M

Various Use CasesThe many uses for Listahanan data

Program/Project Design and Development

How many?

Who are

they?

Where are

they?

Developing Program and Projects for Social

Protection

Listahanan was used in identifying beneficiaries of Social Protection Programs like the 4Ps. (Philippine version of Conditional Cash Transfer)

SET 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5

Set 6

How did it help?1.Prioritizing2.Clustering3.Identifying

How DSWD used the Listahanan Registry

Application of Lessons LearnedReactive and Proactive use cases

ListahananDatabase

Making predictions on the impact ofpotential disaster events as well as key tothe preparation of humanitarianresponse using mathematical theories,scientific processes, and spatialtechnologies based on current andhistorical data

SET 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5

Set 6

How did it help?1.Prioritizing2.Clustering3.Identifying

Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)Listahanan was extensively used in designing programs

• Disaster response phase• Food for work program

• Early recovery phase• cash for work program

• Clean up operation

https:maps.dswd.gov.ph

Food for Work (immediate assistance)

• In the early days of the relief assistance, when banks and other shops are still closed, hose in the Listahanan Registry are offered an opportunity to work for food.

• They help clear the streets, DSWD and other agencies lend them tools for the clearing operations

Modality of cash assistance

▪ Combination of all available modalities (direct payout, vouchers, cash cards, etc).▪ Maximum utilization of cash cards and other related technology or bank or financial

products intended for quick and mass-based cash distribution.

After a week or two, when banks resumes operation and shops start operations,DSWD and other development partners offered cash for work program

Other Government Programs using Listahanan Database

• Listahanan was used in the implementation of Universal Health Program of the Department of Health and PhilHealth.

• Currently, the Department of Higher Education is tapping in on the Listahanan Database in identifying who will be the beneficiaries of the government scholarship program for this school year

• Department of Finance is using the Registry in the Unconditional Cash Transfer Progra

Listahanan and the Unconditional Cash Transfer Program

• Tax Reform Initiative by the Department of Finance (DOF) aims at improving the overall competitiveness of the Philippines in terms of Foreign Direct Investment.

• DOF expects a small increase in inflation during the implementation of the proposed Tax Reform Packages

• To protect the poor Household, DOF and DSWD conceptualized a targeted Unconditional Cash Transfer Program.

• Provide cash grants as buffer to the expected inflationary increase in the prices of basic commodities.

• Makes use of Listahanan 2015 for targeting.

Listahanan 2015 made it possible

Title Result

Total number of Household enumerated

15.1 Million (1st round) 15.2M after on Demand Assessment

Total Number of Poor Household

5.1M poor HH

Total Number of HH in the Philippines

Approximately 20M

Major ChallengeMost urgent concern

Queuing Up for Relief Assistance

Challenge

• There are many, but the most difficult is “dealing with Duplicates”

Response

• A bigger and better database: the Phillipine ID system

“a biometric enabled registry designed to be a foundational ID primarily aimed at eliminating duplicates”

ClosingIn terms of DSWD’s experience, Listahanan (registry of the poor household) allowed us to proactively plan and adapt to various

emerging social protection scenarios …

Our social registry readily gives us these three very important information …

1. how many are they? 2. who are they? 3. where are they?

THANK YOU!

Disaster Response Map: https://maps.dswd.gov.ph

Noel M. MacalaladAssistant Secretary, Policy and Plans Group Department of Social Welfare and DevelopmentPhilippinesEmail: nmmacalalad@dswd.gov.ph