March 29, 2024

The city council recently confirmed Executive Order 16 creating the Local Verification Committee (LVC) for National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction or “Lista-han” (NTHS-PR) in Baguio.
The NHTS-PR or Listahanan is an information system meant to identify potential beneficiaries of the social protection programs and services of the government.
Earlier, the city council approved a resolution requesting Mayor Benjamin Magalong to reconstitute the LVC, which was created by virtue of Administrative Order 17 s. 2015 issued by former mayor Mauricio Domogan.
Several members of the committee no longer work with the government, thus the need to reconstitute its composition in preparation for the third round of household assessment.
Magalong chairs the new LVC created by virtue of Executive Order 16 with City Social Welfare and Development Officer Betty Fangasan as vice chairperson.
Members of the committee consist of government officials and representatives of concerned civil society organizations as follows:
Councilor Lilia Farinas, chair of the council committee on social services, women, and urban poor; Councilor Michael Lawana, Liga ng mga Barangay president; Arch. Donna Tabangin, City Planning and Development coordinator; Evelyn Trinidad, Department of the Interior and Local Government city director; Maria Rosario Lopes, executive director of Jaime V. Ongpin, Inc.; and Voltaire Acosta, chief executive officer of Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values.
The LVC is tasked to settle unresolved grievance claims and appeals of resolved claims by barangay units with regard to the inclusion or exclusion from the list of verified households falling within the coverage of the NHTS-PR.
A complaint shall be entertained by the LVC especially if there is a claim that a specific household is poor and must be included in the list or if a household is “erroneously” identified as poor and is included in the list.
The LVC will also certify the completeness of the list of households living below the poverty threshold along with the recommended changes.
The LVC shall accept complaints against barangay verification teams.
The city council previously approved resolution encouraging the 128 barangays to create a barangay verification team to assess the initial list of poor households under the NHTS-PR and to review appeals and grievances in the community that might arise regarding the program. – Jordan G. Habbiling