Bacolod villages get PHP 12.2 million presidential aid

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — All 61 barangays here have received PHP 12.2 million in financial assistance under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program to fund scholarships and community projects.

Mayor Greg Gasataya led the distribution of checks to barangay representatives Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) lobby.

The turnover was coordinated with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Office of the President.

Each barangay received PHP 200,000, divided equally between scholarships and a community development project selected by the barangay.

The PHP 100,000 scholarship component will support five Presidential Scholars in each barangay, with each student receiving PHP 20,000 in educational assistance.

The remaining PHP 100,000 will fund the barangay’s identified community development project.

Across the city, the allocations total PHP 6.1 million for 305 scholars and PHP 6.1 million for 61 community projects.

The nationwide program is funded by the Office of the President through the Socio-Civic Projects Funds and is governed by DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2026-038.

The program covers more than 42,000 barangays nationwide.

Gasataya thanked the president and the national government for extending the program to all barangays, describing the assistance as urgent and necessary.

He said this was the first time the national government had provided an equal Local Government Support Fund allocation to all barangays, regardless of population or size.

Gasataya also thanked barangay officials for completing the requirements needed for the release of the funds.

He said the program is intended to directly benefit barangay residents.

Gasataya required all barangay captains to submit signed certifications stating that none of their selected scholars are family members or relatives of incumbent barangay officials.

“They (barangays) need to certify that scholar beneficiaries are not related to the barangay officials to ensure that those who will benefit from the scholarship program are the ones who need it most,” the mayor stressed.

DILG City Director Christian Nagaynay said accountability and transparency remain central to the program’s implementation.

Barangays must publicly post information about the distribution of assistance, including the aid provided to scholars.

They must also submit fund utilization reports every 30 days for their community projects.

The city government reaffirmed its commitment to working with barangay officials and national agencies to ensure the funds are used properly, efficiently and transparently.