MALATE, Manila-The Listahanan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MiMaRoPa begins its search for Local Government Units to compete forits very first ‘Gawad Listahanan or Data Utilization Award.’

Gawad Listahanan is an initiative to recognize LGUs efforts to maximize the benefits of the poor by reducing leakages and promoting objective beneficiary selection through the use of Listahanan database.

Listahanan, which started in 2009 is the DSWD’s mechanism of mapping out poor families nationwide that eventually became beneficiaries of the government’s social protection programs such as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Social Pension and Sustainable Livelihood Program.

“We are inviting all our partner LGUs who have forged Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Data Sharing with the Department to participate in this regional selection by accomplishing the necessary documents required by the Regional Selection Committee,” said DSWD Regional Director Wilma D. Naviamos

LGUs will be judged using three criteria: (1)compliance to the Data Sharing Agreement specifically the selection of beneficiaries for local programs proven in the feedback reports on data utilization; (2) the integration of Listahanan data in local advocacy activities; and (3) innovative practice/s where the data of poor households are used as basis in crafting local development plans.

Three LGUs will be named winners this October who will also be competing at the national level eyeing a Php50, 000.00 cash prize.

This award also aims to promote convergence of all social protection stakeholders on the identified poor to effectively address the different aspects of poverty, Naviamos added.

Deadline of submission of ‘project entry’ is until September 30, 2014 at the DSWD Regional Office or the nearest Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) offices in Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan provinces.###