DSWD VII Jump-Starts Partners Visit to Promote Utilization of Listahanan 2 Data

With the successful finalization of the guidelines for data sharing of Listahanan 2 data, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII through the National Household Targeting Unit (NHTU) has kicked-off visits to different Local Government Units (LGUs), National Government Agencies (NGAs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and schools/universities to promote the utilization of the Listahanan poverty database.

This ongoing activity of NHTS-PR aims to encourage all LGUs, NGAs, NGOs, GOCCs, CSOs, schools and universities to take advantage of the Listahanan database and discuss the important guidelines of data sharing for the execution of their respective social protection programs and services.

The partners that were visited included the municipalities of Alicia and Sagbayan Bohol; PLGU Siquijor; Argao, Cebu; Saint Peter Academy of Alegria Foundation, Inc. (SPAAFI) of Alegria, Cebu and the Department of Agriculture (DA-7).

The Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are nationwide.

To ensure compliance of the Republic Act 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, DSWD spearheaded the orientation on Data Privacy Act of 2012 and Listahanan data sharing during their visit to the aforementioned LGUs, NGA and school. The orientation aims to educate the potential stakeholders the importance of the firm obedience of Data Privacy Act of 2012 and as well as the adherence of the guidelines for data sharing.

“This is to ensure that the personal information of the assessed households will be protected and will be used exclusively for social protection program and activities,” stated Ruben Boybanting, NHTS-PR Regional Field Coordinator.

A Data Protection Officer (DPO) is designated and tasked to primarily ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations for the protection and security of data and ensure that all staff are competently trained in regards to the critical protection of the Listahanan data. The PDO will also monitor and notify management and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) about personal data breaches.

Request for data sharing from NGAs, NGOs, GOCCs, CSOs, and private foundations, is to be addressed to the DSWD Central Office while request at the regional level including LGUs, will be addressed to the respective DSWD Regional Offices.

The appointed DPO will be responsible in responding to all requests for information by data subjects including access to personal information and their rectification, updating, removal and destruction.

Documentary requirements to be submitted along with the letter request are the following: a) original copy authorizing the head of the agency to enter into an agreement for data sharing with DSWD; b) the name of designated Data Protection Officer (DPO) of the agency who will oversee data use, protection, and security of data; c) valid proof of the identification of the agency and the DPO; and, d) documents attesting to the legitimacy of the organization.

“With these documentary requirements, we are grateful to the partners that we have already visited as they initially agreed to maximize the Listahanan poverty database in carrying out their respective social protection programs and services,” expressed Boybanting.

With the utilization of the database, poor households included in the Listahanan will be given the right attention and appropriate services that will be helpful for the augmentation of their socio-economic status, while the LGUs NGOs, NGAs and other civil society organizations are assured that they target the qualified and right groups of people for their social protection programs and services.