Aurelina Rosas’ family, of Brgy. Halayhayin in Pililla, Rizal, was identified poor during the 2009 assessment conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development through the Listahanan targeting system (previously known as the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction). According to her, this opened a lot of opportunities for her family such as being a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and a sponsored member of PhilHealth. These opportunities led her family to a more improved life that is evidenced by their now concrete house and their small beef stand business.
This 2015, the DSWD will be conducting the Listahanan second household assessment to update the database of poor households nationwide. ***
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TAGGED AS POOR, NOW CHASING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED
About six years ago, Aurelina “Lina” Rosas, 38, remembers being interviewed regarding her family’s living condition in their small home in Brgy. Halayhayin, Pililla, Rizal Province.
“Sira-sira ang bahay namin, nakatali nga lang ng lubid para tumayo. Sa bahay lang talaga ako at umaasa sa paghahalaman ng asawa ko para sa mga gastusin. Hindi naman araw-araw ang kita sa paghahalaman kaya mahirap ang buhay,” she shared.
That particular day in 2009 is something that opened a lot of opportunities for Lina’s family. A few years later, they became a beneficiary of the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
“Nasuportahan ng programa ang aming pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan, lalo na ang pag-aaral ng mga bata. Naging mas maayos na rin ang buhay namin,” Lina gratefully said.
Opportunities offered to poor families
In 2009, the DSWD conducted its first assessment of poor households nationwide. Previously the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), the Listahanan targeting system identified who and where the poor households are through a house-to-house assessment. It generated a database of poor households, which is the basis of identification of beneficiaries for different programs for the poor such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Identified as poor, Lina’s family was registered into the Pantawid Pamilya program in 2012. She has two children, 14-year-old Alexandra and 8-year-old John Andrei.
“Hindi na namin pinoproblema ang gastusin sa school ng mga bata. Kaya kapag nakakapag-ani kami ng pinya at saging, nakakaipon kami at nakakabili ng mga hayop,” Lina shared.
More than a year ago, Lina’s husband Jesus has managed to sell their livestock to fund a business he started with his sibling. Now, they have a beef stand along the road of Brgy. Halayhayin.
“Mas okay ang buhay na may ganito kami kasi d’yan na namin kinukuha ‘yung pang-araw-araw na gastusin. Masipag ang asawa ko kaya patuloy pa rin s’ya sa pagtatanim,” shared Lina.
Today, Lina is also a parent leader where she helps poor mothers like her in following what the program teaches, especially in taking care of their children and dreaming for a better future. She feels that with what she does as a parent leader, she has worth in their community.
PhilHealth membership
As a Listahanan identified poor and a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, Lina’s family also takes advantage of their sponsored membership to PhilHealth.
“Napakalaking tulong rin po sa amin ang PhilHealth. Naranasan ko pong ma-ospital noong namatay ‘yung 6 months old kong baby sa t’yan ko noong nagbubuntis ako. Nabawasan po ang bill namin ng mahigit Php25,000,” she shared.
Continuously working for their dreams
With the support they are receiving and the hard work Lina and her husband do for their family, Lina sees a clearer future, especially of her children’s.
“Gusto talaga naming mapagtapos sila para magkaroon sila ng maayos na buhay. Patuloy kaming magsusumikap at patuloy naming susuportahan ang kanilang pangangailangan lalo na ang kanilang pag-aaral para makamit nila ang tagumpay,” she shared.
More than the cash grants and the other benefits the family receives from being identified as poor, Lina is also thankful to how these opportunities allowed her family to be more determined to change their life and not go back to what used to be their life before.
From the memories of their small home, Lina proudly shows a house made of concrete where they are now making new memories of struggles and success. For her, this safer and better home is one of the indications that little by little, their life is improving and that the opportunities provided to their family have never been wasted.***