President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the release of ₱8 billion to 42,000 barangays to fund education, social, and economic projects helping communities cope with challenges from the Middle East conflict.
The Philippine government, under President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., has launched a program distributing ₱8 billion to 42,000 barangays nationwide. This initiative is a response to the ongoing Middle East crisis, aiming to alleviate the economic and social burden on local communities. Each barangay is allocated ₱200,000 to implement educational, social, and economic projects.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto explained that the funds directly support barangays as frontline units closest to the people, capable of promptly identifying and addressing issues. Half of the funds can be spent on community projects, such as installing street lights, patrol vehicles, Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems for safety, and power generators for health and evacuation centers during disasters. The remaining half supports a “finisher program” assisting up to 200,000 senior college students, preventing delays or dropouts in their graduation caused by economic disruptions related to the crisis.
Barangays in Pilar, Bataan, have recently received their grants. The program is a collaboration between the Office of the President and the Liga ng mga Barangay, with implementation and monitoring managed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The government aims to complete cash distributions by June 2026, with all funds expended by the end of the year.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/983339/marcos-ordered-distribution-of-p8b-for-barangays-education-economic-projects-recto/story/
