Iloilo barangays receive PHP 200,000 each at Liga Day

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Each of Iloilo province’s 1,721 barangays received PHP 200,000 in financial assistance Sunday, July 19, under the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang program during the province’s 2026 Liga Day celebration at the Iloilo Sports Complex.

The assistance earmarks PHP 100,000 for priority barangay projects and PHP 100,000 in scholarship aid for five scholars in each barangay.

The provincewide allocation amounts to PHP 344.2 million, with each qualified scholar entitled to PHP 20,000 in educational assistance.

Speaking before more than 15,000 barangay officials, Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas National President Maria Katrina Jessica Dy said the assistance marked the first time barangays had received direct funding from the Office of the President.

Dy said the additional funding would help villages with limited financial resources, noting that more than 70% of barangays nationwide receive PHP 5 million or less in annual National Tax Allotment.

She urged barangay officials to ensure that the funds are spent properly.

“Let’s use it accordingly so that every peso goes to the betterment of the community,” Dy said.

“This may be a small amount, but every peso should reflect dignity and integrity.”

She also called on barangay officials to help rebuild public trust by demonstrating transparency and accountability in implementing projects.

The financial assistance highlighted the 2026 Liga Day celebration, which drew a record 15,512 barangay officials from Iloilo province’s 1,721 barangays, the highest attendance since the annual gathering began.

The event surpassed the 13,300 participants recorded in 2025 and the 11,608 who attended in 2024.

Delegates represented all five congressional districts, with the Third District posting the largest contingent at 4,050 participants.

The First District had 3,676 participants, followed by the Fifth District with 2,974, the Second District with 2,447 and the Fourth District with 2,322.

Iloilo Province Liga ng mga Barangay President Amalia Debuque thanked barangay officials for supporting this year’s celebration and described the record attendance as a testament to the organization’s unity.

Debuque said participation in Liga Day remained voluntary, with the PHP 1,000 registration fee used to cover participants’ event kits.

She said sponsorships and personal donations also helped finance the celebration.

Debuque said organizers were pleased that the event proceeded without rain for the first time, although participants endured intense heat throughout the day.

Despite the festivities, Debuque reminded barangay officials that their responsibilities continued beyond the celebration.

“After today, it’s back to work. Being a barangay official is a 24/7 responsibility,” she said.

She also urged village leaders to ensure the proper use of government funds in their respective communities.

Themed “Kusog sang Kabarangayan, Kusog sang Probinsya kag Kabanwahanan,” the celebration also featured a performance by the band Rivermaya, raffle draws and the awarding of winners in the “Hataw Ka sa Liga” online music video competition.

Present during the event were League of Cities of the Philippines National President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora; San Juan City Councilors James Yap and Paul Artadi; Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.; Vice Gov. Nathalie Ann Debuque; Third District Rep. Kathy Gorriceta-Cutiyog; Fourth District Rep. Ferjenel Biron; and other local officials.