Marcos Jr. Launches Historic Direct Assistance Program for All 42,011 Barangays

MANILA, Philippines — The Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas welcomed the rollout of the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program,” a flagship initiative of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that delivers direct financial assistance to barangays nationwide.

Designed to empower barangays as the level of government closest to the people, the program comes at a time when communities continue to face economic challenges such as rising oil prices. It serves as a long-term strategy to strengthen grassroots governance by ensuring that support reaches communities directly, efficiently, and without delay. By placing resources in the hands of barangays, local leaders are better able to respond to the immediate and specific needs of their constituents.

Launched on March 24, 2026 during the Liga National Congress, the initiative reflects the President’s vision of governance that is felt at the community level. Barangays, as the first point of contact for citizens especially in times of need, now receive direct support from Malacañang. This marks a significant shift in how national assistance is delivered and strengthens the role of barangays in nation-building.

Under the program, each of the country’s 42,011 barangays will receive ₱200,000 in direct financial assistance, subject to the submission of required documents. Of this amount, ₱100,000 is allocated for educational support for students from vulnerable sectors, including children of overseas Filipino workers, transport drivers, and low-income families nearing graduation. The remaining ₱100,000 is intended for community-based projects that improve service delivery, such as solar street lights, generators, floodwater pumps, patrol vehicles, CCTV systems, steel pipe tents, and monobloc chairs.

Liga National President Jessica Dy emphasized that the program is a direct response to the long-standing needs of barangays. “Nakinig at tumugon ang Pangulo. Dito natin naramdaman ang kaniyang kagustuhan na mag-abot ng tulong mula sa kaniyang opisina hanggang sa bawat barangay. Sa ngalan ng 42,011 barangays sa ating bansa, lubos kaming nagpapasalamat. Ang proyektong ito ay konkretong suporta. Patunay na ang barangay ay hindi lamang nakikita kundi naririnig, nararamdaman, at pinalalakas,” she said.

For barangay leaders, the impact is already being felt. Romuel Acob, Punong Barangay of Sto. Domingo, Quirino, Isabela, shared: “Seven years na po akong Punong Barangay. Ngayon lang namin naranasan na may direktang tulong mula sa Malacañang para sa aming mga constituents.”

The initial rollout of the program covers Batch 1 areas including Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Butuan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Calapan City, Camarines Norte, Camiguin, Cotabato City, Iligan City, Isabela, La Union, Maguindanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Oriental Mindoro, Naga City, Ormoc City, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. Additional batches are already being prepared to ensure full nationwide implementation.

Barangays are required to submit a properly accomplished Socio-Civic Presidential Fund Request Letter as part of the process. The letter must use the official LGU letterhead aligned with DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2026-006 and Liga National Circular 2026-002, with correct and updated logo, address, and contact details. It must reflect the actual date in Day-Month-Year format and retain the prescribed recipient details without alteration. The full official name of the barangay must be indicated, and selected project items must be listed individually instead of by package name, with a clear statement of purpose such as Disaster Risk Reduction and Management or public service delivery. Financial details must match official bank records, and the full legal name of the barangay captain or authorized signatory must be used. If the account is with a government bank other than LandBank, the name of the bank must be clearly specified. The letter may bear an electronic or wet signature, provided a clear scanned copy is submitted if manually signed, and must be signed by the Punong Barangay.

Submissions must follow the prescribed process. Barangays under Provincial Liga Chapters must submit their requests to the Municipal Liga Chapter, which will review and consolidate submissions before forwarding them to the Provincial Liga Chapter for final review and submission to Liga National. Barangays under HUC or ICC Liga Chapters must submit through their respective Liga Chapter, which will likewise review and transmit the documents to Liga National. Direct submissions to Liga National will not be processed.

For the release of funds, barangays must also comply with the requirements for claiming the Socio-Civic Project Fund. This includes submitting a duly accomplished Deed of Donation in four original copies, indicating the exact Barangay-Identified Development Project consistent with the Sangguniang Barangay Resolution, and ensuring that “Educational Assistance” is included. The correct SB Resolution Number must be indicated, all pages must be signed by all parties, and only the designated page must be notarized. Supporting documents must include the SB Resolution signed by the Municipal Mayor and all Council Members on official letterhead, an Official Receipt or certified true copy, proof of bank account through a check or passbook showing the official account name, and an Authority to Deposit specific to the Land Bank of the Philippines. Claimants must submit two photocopies of a valid government-issued ID and provide three specimen signatures on each copy.

The program also forms part of the administration’s broader effort to strengthen all levels of local governance. Alongside direct support to barangays, parallel programs continue to assist provinces, cities, and municipalities through mechanisms such as the Local Government Support Fund. Together, these initiatives reflect a coordinated approach to governance that ensures support is delivered across all levels, from national down to the grassroots.

Through the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program,” the national government reinforces its commitment to inclusive and responsive governance. By investing directly in barangays, it ensures that support reaches communities where it is needed most and that no barangay is left behind.

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