PSA-Guimaras nears completion of DSWD beneficiary checks

GUIMARAS — The Philippine Statistics Authority in Guimaras is nearing completion of its validation of Department of Social Welfare and Development beneficiaries through the Community-Based Monitoring System.

The verification seeks to improve the accuracy of government social protection databases by updating household records to reflect current socioeconomic conditions.

Accurate beneficiary information helps agencies direct cash assistance and other services to qualified households while reducing errors caused by outdated records.

As of July 30, 2026, PSA-Guimaras had completed 81% of its field validation for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries.

The 4Ps validation began April 14, 2026, and has covered every barangay in the province.

Field validation for beneficiaries of the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens, or SocPen, had reached 95% completion.

The SocPen validation began June 11, 2026, and has also covered all barangays in Guimaras.

The remaining beneficiary records are undergoing final verification.

The validation involves household visits and interviews to confirm and update information provided by DSWD beneficiaries.

The resulting community-level data will help government agencies plan, implement, monitor and evaluate poverty reduction and social protection programs.

The Community-Based Monitoring System Act, or Republic Act 11315, established CBMS as a technology-based system for collecting and validating detailed local data.

The law requires government agencies to use CBMS data when prioritizing social protection programs in areas with high poverty incidence.

It also requires agencies to protect respondents’ privacy and implement safeguards against unauthorized access to personal information.

The DSWD adopted CBMS as its standardized targeting system for 4Ps and began using the data in March 2026 to identify more than 493,000 potential new beneficiaries nationwide, according to the program office.

The 4Ps provides conditional cash grants intended to improve the health, nutrition and education of children from poor and near-poor families.

SocPen provides qualified indigent senior citizens with a monthly stipend of PHP 1,000 for daily subsistence and medical needs, according to the DSWD.

Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare said accurate and current beneficiary information is necessary to ensure that government assistance reaches qualified individuals and households.

“Reliable community-level data are fundamental to effective governance. Through the CBMS Field Validation, we are helping ensure that government programs are supported by accurate and up-to-date information, allowing social protection initiatives to better respond to the needs of our communities,” Losare said.

PSA-Guimaras is coordinating with the DSWD, local government units, barangay officials and community stakeholders to complete the validation activities.

The agency encouraged beneficiaries and local communities to continue cooperating during the remaining verification work.

“The cooperation of our stakeholders contributes to the production of quality community-level statistics that support evidence-based governance, inclusive development, and the effective delivery of government services,” Losare added.