165,235 households in Region 1 poor

By Freddie G. Lazaro

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Listahanan program, has listed a total 165,235 poor households in Region 1 during the second round of households assessment held in 2015, it was revealed recently.

Out from the 165,235 households identified as poor in Ilocos region; 12,116 households are identified in Ilocos Norte; 16,944 in Ilocos Sur; 22,595 poor in La Union; and 113,580 in Pangasinan.

DSWD Region 1 Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo said that the result of the 2015 National Household Targeting Unit (NHTU) or the Listahanan program in the region was bared in a simple launching rite at the auditorium of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on July 22.

During the launching rite, Castillo said the accuracy in getting the latest result of the Listahanan was explained by Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson, the former Listahanan national project manager who is the head of the DSWD regional office in National Capital Region.

“The purpose in gathering the data through the Listahanan program is not just identifying the poor households but its result is the baseline data in formulating plans for implementation addressing the needs of the poor families,” he said.