Abra de Ilog- To adhere to the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTSPR) goal of reducing the under coverage and exclusion of the department’s social protection program, National Household Targeting Unit (NHTU) of Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office IV-B conducted a special household assessment to a community of Indigenous People (IP) called ‘Iraya’ in Sitio Lagnas, Lumangbayan last March 12-17, 2013.

Lagnas is the farthest Sitio in Lumangbayan, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro. The Irayanons, a sub tribe of Mangyan have to walk for two days before reaching the town proper.

Regional Field Coordinator Ernie H. Jarabejo believes that the geographical location of IP communities limits the opportunity to access government’s social protection programs. Even Chairman Erwin Arile, barangay chairman, admits that he has not yet reached the area.

“Masaya ako na nagpunta kayo para kami ay matulungan kahit napakahirap ang pagpunta dito”, says Iraya Tribal Mayor Simmy Labison. The Local Government Unit thru the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office showed valuable support to the assessment.

A total of 65 Iraya households were assessed. Habagat Validation aims to determine the post-disaster socio-economic conditions of households who were affected by the southwest monsoon last August 2012. The results will facilitate the formulation of responsive intervention.

The said validation was participated by representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) Field Office IV and Office of the Mangyan Affairs (OMA), NHTU Area Coordinator, three Area Supervisors and 18 Enumerators.

NHTSPR is an information management system implemented by the DSWD that identifies ‘who and where the poor are’ nationwide. ###