MANILA, Philippines – At least 250 workers will be hired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development for its anti-poverty program in Metro Manila, an official said Friday.

National Capital Region Director Thelsa Biolena announced that their office would hire more than 250 workers for its National Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NTSPR) program.

Thelsa Biolena, National Capital Region director, said the workers to be hired were two area coordinators, 20 area supervisors, 198 household enumerators, and 32 encoders.

“Hiring of these workers is part of DSWD’s response to intensify its Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) to encounter the effects of the global financial crisis,” Biolena said.

Aside from giving the aspirants a job, Biolena said that the hired workers would be mobilized to conduct a national household assessment to identify who and where the poorest of the poor were, particularly in Metro Manila.

“It will be easier for us to access the poorest of the poor because of this program and we can easily reach out to them when we have new programs designed for their protection and benefit,” said Biolena.

Biolena also added that the system would reduce the rate of spillage and lessen the exclusivity or under-coverage of the targeted poor beneficiaries. “With this method, we can prioritize and rank the households beneficiaries,” Biolena said.

Deadline of submission of all applications will be on March 4.