San Jose, Occidental Mindoro- The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office IV-B thru the National Household Targeting Unit held series of training for field staff in preparation for the Habagat Special Validation.

The trainings aim to orient the field staff on the operational processes of determining the present condition of the identified poor and non-poor households (HH) in areas affected by Habagat as well as the economic status of HH which are not included in the NHTS-PR database but were affected by  the southwest monsoon.

Deputy Regional Project Manager Editha B. Ocampo said, “Magalak at mapalad na kayo ay bahagi sa misyong ito dahil napakahalaga ng iyong papel na gagampanan upang tukuyin kung sino at nasaan ang mahihirap na sambahayan sa ating bansa. Sa inyo nakasalalay ang magiging resulta ng proyektong ito”.

In August 2012, torrential rains brought about by the southwest monsoon, Habagat caused massive damage to properties and forced thousands families in MIMAROPA and other regions. Some of these families now have already returned to their homes or have stayed with relatives.

Habagat special validation will provide the department and other stakeholders with data on the post-disaster socio-economic conditions of the HH in the affected areas. This will also inform the department of the immediate and long-term needs of affected HH and facilitate the formulation of responsive intervention to affected HH.

The 2-day training for Area Coordinators (AC) and Area Supervisors (AS) was held at Sikatuna Beach Resort last January 31 to February 1, 2013. Training for Enumerators (EN) for Cluster 1 (Municipalities of Rizal and San Jose) and Cluster 2 (Municipality of Abra de Ilog) were simultaneously conducted from February 2-4, 2013.

There are 3 ACs and 13 ASs hired for Occidental and Oriental Mindoro.  A total of 27 ENs were hired for the municipalities of San Jose and Rizal and 36 ENs for Abra de Ilog. ###