ILOILO – This province’s 1,721 barangays received a combined P344.2 million in presidential assistance, with the country’s Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) chief warning local officials that proper and transparent spending is crucial to restoring public trust damaged by the flood control scandal.
Each barangay is allocated P200,000 under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” Program.
A ceremonial turnover of checks highlighted Liga Day 2026 at the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz, Iloilo City, on Sunday, July 19.
LnB National President Maria Katrina Jessica Dy appealed to barangay officials to ensure that every peso benefits their communities.
“Sa aking kapwa barangay officials na naririto, sana tandaan po natin: Ito pong binigay sa atin na P200,000 sana po ay gamitin ng wasto. Ang bawat P1 na ipanag-katiwala po sa atin ilagay po natin sa talagang nakakabuti para sa ating komunidad,” Dy told around 15,500 barangay officials attending the event.
Dy said public confidence in government had eroded following the flood control scandal, making it imperative for barangay officials to safeguard and properly account for the assistance.
“Ipakita po natin sa ating barangay na tayo ang may dignidad, may integridad, kag gastusin natin ang perang ito para sa ikabubuti ng ating mga komunidad,” she added.
According to Dy, President Marcos said the program could be repeated next year — possibly with a bigger allocation — if barangays implement it properly.
She recalled raising the concerns of financially struggling barangays during a meeting with the President in October 2025, particularly those receiving P5 million or less in national tax allotment.
Dy said many small barangays barely stretch their annual budgets to maintain operations. Some cannot provide adequate compensation to officials and workers, lack computers and printers, still use typewriters, or have no service vehicles for barangay tanod patrols.
Under the program, half of each barangay’s P200,000 allocation will finance educational assistance for five scholars, while the remaining amount may support priority barangay projects.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Memorandum Circular 2026-038, issued on July 2, directs each barangay committee on education to select five beneficiaries who will receive P20,000 each as a “finisher fund.”
Eligible beneficiaries must be incoming fourth-year college students for School Year 2026-2027 who come from vulnerable households, are at risk of dropping out, have no family member who has completed tertiary education, and reside in the barangay.
Students in their fifth or sixth year may also qualify if they are graduating during the same school year.
If no graduating students are available, the assistance may be extended to incoming third-year college students or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority scholars. Students enrolled outside their city or municipality remain eligible as long as they are barangay residents.
Barangays may impose additional eligibility requirements, provided these are documented and implemented fairly and transparently.
The P20,000 assistance may be used for tuition and other school fees, supplies, transportation, meals and other education-related expenses necessary for graduation. It cannot be divided among more than five beneficiaries.
Each barangay must adopt a resolution establishing its fund-release guidelines in compliance with government accounting and auditing rules. Scholars must sign an acknowledgment receipt and an undertaking to remain in school throughout School Year 2026-2027.
Meanwhile, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. thanked President Marcos for extending assistance to Iloilo’s barangays and assured local officials that the provincial government would continue supporting their needs and priority projects.
He also thanked Vice Gov. Lee Ann Debuque for attending to the concerns of the province’s 1,721 barangays.
Defensor appealed for the barangay officials’ continued cooperation during his remaining two years as governor.
“Padayun ko nga pangayuon ang inyo nga bulig sa aton mga gina-obra nga matapos naton ang gusto naton tapuson, nga masugponan naton ang gusto sugponan. Amo na ang importante kag dapat antes matapos ang third term of your governor, kinahanglon ko kamo. Kon wala kamo indi ko ran mahingagaw, indi ko ran matapos. So, sa liwat salamat gid sa mga nagliligad nga binuligay and salamat in advance sa padayun niyo nga pagbulig,” Defensor said./PN
