CENTRAL VISAYAS, Philippines (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) in Central Visayas conducted recently consultation with Boholano officials on two anti-poverty programs.

Said programs, the Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), a community driven community project and the National Household Targeting System-Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) are government’s strategies for poverty alleviation.

According to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program coordinator, Aileen Lariba, the anti-poverty programs of DSWD are geared towards its mission and mandate of empowering disadvantaged individuals and improving their lives.

The first step is to assist the poor in identifying their needs then educate and equip them with knowledge and capability building activities, Lariba said.

For Bohol, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman was present to clarify and discuss such issues as how the agency identified the poorest of the poor in the country.

Soliman told local officials that the agency uses the National Household Targeting System-Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) for this purpose.