ILOILO CITY — Malacañang has allocated ₱344 million for Iloilo province, ensuring every single one of its 1,721 barangays receives ₱200,000. The "Bawat Barangay Makikinabang" program, part of the Local Government Support Fund prioritized by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is the largest barangay‑level aid package the province has ever received. Half the amount funds college scholarships for five students per barangay, while the other half goes to community development projects.
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial Federation President Amalia Victoria Debuque met in mid‑May to prepare the distribution. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan unanimously approved the resolution authorizing the governor to sign the deed of donation between the province and the Office of the President. A trip to Manila on May 28 will formalize the downloading of funds.
Five Scholars, One Barangay at a Time
Each barangay will select five college students to receive ₱20,000 each in educational assistance. Priority goes to graduating or senior students from low‑income families, households affected by unemployment, and families without a college graduate. Both private and state university students are eligible.
More than 8,600 students across the province are expected to benefit. Debuque appealed to barangay officials to keep politics out of the selection process. "We trust that barangay officials will practice fairness," she said. The scholarship mechanism is designed to catch students at risk of dropping out during their final year—those for whom ₱20,000 may mean the difference between a diploma and a departure.
Solar Lights, Patrol Vehicles, and the Visible Return of Public Funds
The remaining ₱100,000 per barangay funds small‑scale community projects. Eligible uses include solar streetlights, CCTV cameras, patrol vehicles, power generators, flood pumps, disaster response equipment, office equipment, tents, and monoblock chairs. The menu deliberately prioritizes safety, disaster readiness, and frontline service improvements.
Provincial officials expect the program to create broad impact across Iloilo, which has the most barangays of any Philippine province. Defensor and Debuque are targeting July 19—Iloilo Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay Day—for the release, ahead of the President's State of the Nation Address on July 27. The program's architecture ensures that every peso can be traced to a specific student or a specific project, making the return of public funds visible at the barangay level.
