Geographic Areas#

Applies to: Social Registry, SP-MIS, DRIMS

What You'll Find Here#

This reference guide explains how geographic areas work in OpenSPP. You'll learn how to:

  • Understand the area hierarchy (country, region, district, etc.)

  • Use area filters to find registrants

  • Read area codes and complete names

What Are Geographic Areas?#

Geographic areas represent locations in a hierarchical structure. They help you:

  • Record where beneficiaries live

  • Filter registrants by location

  • Target programs to specific regions

Area Hierarchy#

Areas are organized in a parent-child hierarchy, up to 10 levels deep. A typical structure looks like:

Level

Example

Description

0

Country

Top-level area (no parent)

1

Region

First subdivision

2

Province

Second subdivision

3

District

Third subdivision

4

Municipality

Fourth subdivision

5

Barangay/Village

Fifth subdivision

Note

Your OpenSPP system may use different names for each level depending on your country's administrative divisions.

Understanding Area Names#

Each area has several name fields:

Field

Description

Example

Name

Area name with code

Quezon City (QC01)

Code

Unique identifier

QC01

Complete Name

Full path showing hierarchy

Philippines > NCR > Quezon City (QC01)

Alternate Names

Other names for the area

QC, Quezon

The Complete Name shows the full path from the top-level area down to the current area, separated by " > " symbols. This helps you identify exactly where an area is in the hierarchy.

Area Types#

Areas can be classified by type. Common types include:

Type

Description

Admin Area

Standard administrative division

Your administrator may define additional area types specific to your implementation.

Area Tags#

Tags provide additional classification for areas. Tags are used for:

  • Identifying urban vs rural areas

  • Marking priority zones

  • Grouping areas for reporting

Common tags might include: Urban, Rural, Remote, Priority, Conflict-Affected.

Viewing Areas in the System#

To view the list of areas:

  1. Click Area in the main menu

  2. Click Areas > Area

The list shows:

Column

Description

Name

Area name

Code

Area code

Parent

Parent area

Complete Name

Full hierarchy path

Level

Depth in hierarchy (0 = top level)

Type

Area classification

Using Area Filters#

When searching for registrants, you can filter by area:

  1. Open the Registry (Individuals or Groups)

  2. Click the search box

  3. Select an area field filter

  4. Choose the area from the dropdown

The area dropdown shows:

  • The complete name (full path) to help you identify the correct area

  • Areas are filtered based on your access permissions

How Areas Appear in Forms#

When registering a beneficiary, you select their area from a dropdown. The dropdown shows areas you have permission to access.

Form Field

What to Select

Area

The beneficiary's location (usually their residence)

Are You Stuck?#

Can't find an area in the dropdown?

  • You may not have permission to access that area. Contact your administrator.

  • The area may not exist in the system. Ask your administrator to add it.

  • Try searching by the area code instead of the name.

Not sure which area to select?

  • Look at the complete name to see the full hierarchy path.

  • Ask the beneficiary to confirm their administrative division.

  • Check identity documents that show the address.

Area shows wrong parent?

  • Contact your administrator. Area hierarchy is managed by system administrators.