The United States Agency for International Development will give P3 million in technical assistance from the European Commission for the conduct of a demographic survey, that will determine the target beneficiaries of the Provincial Health Insurance of Negros Oriental.

Dr. Alex Herrin of the Community Health Living Standards presented the CHLS as a tool in determining the poverty level of target beneficiaries, especially on health-related matters, in an orientation Thursday among chiefs of hospitals, municipal and city health officers as well as planning officers from Basay to Canlaon City.

Herrin noted that when income is used as basis for conducting the survey, many would say they are poor in the absence of clear data.

Consultant Dr. Ely Villapando of the Integrated Provincial Health Office said accurate data are needed for the launching of PHINO in June this year.

Villapando cited different statistics on the poverty level in Negros Oriental.

The National Statistics Coordinating Board said in 2006, that 37 percent of the total population in Negros Oriental belongs to the poverty level, and it dropped to 32 percent in 2007.

But USAID records show the poverty level of the province at 43 percent.

It is for this reason that the provincial government needs an accurate data for the implementation of the PHINO, Villapando said.

But with, or without the data, PHINO will be launched in June using the data gathered by health workers from the local government units and their respective barangays.

PHINO intends to cover 418,000 indigents out of the 1.29 population in Negros Oriental based on the 32 percent poverty level.*JG

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