ILOILO – The distribution of P200,000 in financial assistance to each eligible barangay in Iloilo Province is back on track after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) cleared the resumption of the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” Program following the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
The Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) – Iloilo Province Chapter resumed releasing checks on Friday, October 2, ending a suspension imposed on September 18 because of the election-period prohibition on the release and disbursement of certain public funds.
LnB-Iloilo Province Chapter president Amalia Debuque confirmed that the organization received a Comelec circular allowing the distribution to proceed.
Barangays in Guimbal, Igbaras, Miag-ao, Tubungan, Alimodian and Zarraga were among those covered by Friday’s check distribution.
Barangays in other municipalities that have yet to receive their checks were advised to wait for their schedules, which Debuque said would be announced through her Facebook page as documents are processed.
“Amat-amat naton nga i-release ang mga cheke per batch,” Debuque added.
Check releases have already covered barangays in 15 towns and cities: Mina, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Passi City, Ajuy, Batad, Estancia, San Rafael, Guimbal, Igbaras, Miag-ao, Tubungan, Alimodian and Zarraga.
The LnB provincial chapter suspended the release of checks following Comelec Resolution No. 11265, issued on August 5, 2026, which laid down rules implementing the prohibition against the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds for social services and housing-related projects, as well as the issuance of treasury warrants and similar devices, in connection with the November 2, 2026 BSKE.
Section 261(v) of the Omnibus Election Code prohibits public officials and employees, including those in barangays and government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries, from releasing, disbursing or spending public funds for public works, social services and housing-related projects during the 45 days preceding a regular election, except for expenditures falling under specified exemptions.
With the BSKE postponed, Comelec lifted the suspension, clearing the way for the distribution of financial assistance under programs such as Bawat Barangay Makikinabang to continue.
Under the program, each barangay is allocated P200,000, half of which will provide scholarship assistance to five qualified students while the remainder may support priority barangay projects.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular 2026-038, or the “Implementing Guidelines on Bawat Barangay Makikinabang: Presidential Assistance Under the Socio-Civic Project Funds Project,” provides the rules for selecting scholarship beneficiaries.
Each barangay, through its committee on education, must select five beneficiaries who are incoming fourth-year college students for School Year 2026-2027, come from vulnerable households, are at risk of dropping out, belong to families with no member who has completed tertiary education, and are residents of the barangay concerned.
Students in their fifth or sixth year may also qualify if they are graduating in School Year 2026-2027.
If a barangay has no graduating students, scholarship assistance may be extended to incoming third-year college students or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority scholars.
Students enrolled in universities outside their city or municipality remain eligible as long as they are residents of the beneficiary barangay.
Barangays may also impose additional eligibility requirements provided these are properly documented and applied in a just, fair and transparent manner.
Each of the five selected scholars will receive P20,000 as a “finisher fund” intended to help ensure that they complete their studies.
The P100,000 scholarship allocation cannot be divided among more than five students, as the program is designed to provide substantial assistance to each beneficiary.
The scholarship may be used for tuition and other school fees, school supplies, transportation, meal allowances and other education-related expenses necessary for completing academic requirements for graduation./PN
