NHTS-PR holds special enumeration in Palompon, Leyte

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December 19, 2012

PALOMPON, Leyte  –  A special enumeration and validation of poor households in three barangays of Palompon, Leyte was conducted from December 11 to 18, 2012 by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction team of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

DSWD Region 8 Director Leticia Diokno informed that Palompon Mayor Ramon Oñate proposed for the enumeration of the residents of Barangay Belen, Barangay Central III and the validation thru the on-demand-application (ODA) for Barangay Lomonon.

Director Diokno explained that these barangays were not included in the 2009 enumeration which resulted to the exclusion of residents from social programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, particularly the Pantawid Pamilya. This prompted complaints from residents of these barangays.

Knowing the “inclusive growth” that is the thrust of the Aquino Administration, Director Diokno promptly called for the conduct of a special enumeration and validation in said barangays.

A total of 234 households were scheduled for special enumeration and revalidation, 145 for Barangay Central III, 81 for Barangay Belen and eight for Barangay Lomonon.

As reported by Merla Lianza, municipal social worker, Barangay Belen is a far-flung mountainous area that is only accessible thru single motorbike or the locally called Habal-habal, making it very difficult for enumerators to reach the area.

Moreover, fear-provoking hearsays about the area also prevented previous enumerators from conducting the survey.

According to Rebecca Mendoza, a staff of the Municipality’s Social Welfare and Development Office, the area is known for witchcraft and other forms of supernatural practices.

However, Mendoza was quick to add that there is nothing to be scared of as these stories were untrue.

This time, the new enumerators were assured that such stories were unfounded. They were also provided assistance from the barangay chairman.