The guidelines are out for the P200,000 financial assistance to be released to all 42,010 barangays in the country under the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program” (BBMP) funded under the Socio-Civic Projects of the Office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Under the financial assistance initiative, each barangay shall be allocated the amount to provide scholarships to identified students and support the implementation of priority barangay projects
Each of the five (5) deserving and outstanding incoming fourth-year college students shall receive P20,000 each as “Finisher Fund” to help defray essential academic expenses, help address college student attrition and support vulnerable graduating students in completing their education.
Pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 2026-038 issued by the Department of the In and Local Government (DILG) last July 2, 2026, the barangays, through their respective Committee on Education, shall select the five (5) Bagong Pilipinas Barangay Scholars based on the criteria.
Aside from being residents of the barangay, the beneficiaries must be incoming 4th year college students for SY 2026-2027, from vulnerable households, at risk of dropping out and/or from a family with no member who has completed tertiary education as a priority.
Students in 5th or 6th year may be eligible provided they are graduating in SY 2026-2027, the guidelines state.
The circular said that students studying in universities outside the city or municipal jurisdiction are still eligible, provided they are residents of the barangay.
In cases where there are no graduating college students in the barangay, the scholarship assistance may be granted to incoming third-year college students or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholars.
The five beneficiaries will receive P20,000 each to ensure they graduate and the P100,000 assistance should not be divided among more than five students, as the intention is to provide substantial support to each selected scholar-beneficiary, the DILG stressed.
The assistance may be utilized by the student beneficiary for tuition and other school fees, school supplies, transportation, meal allowances and other necessary education-related expenses directly related to the completion of academic requirements for graduation.
While the barangay must develop its own guidelines for the fund release through a resolution, the scholars will be required to sign an undertaking outlining their roles, responsibilities, and commitment to remain in school for SY 2026-2027.
On the other hand, the P100,000 assistance for barangay-identified development priorities will be based on a list provided by the DILG, with the barangay allowed to augment funds for the completion or implementation of the priorities with barangay funds.
The barangay may choose from the list of priority development priority packages, including: 100 monobloc chairs; 2 steel pipe tents; one 125cc patrol vehicle or e-trike; three (3) heavy-duty industrial fans; four (4) CCTV set of 8 cameras with monitor; desktop computer with printer and projector; six 300-watts solar street lights, 6-meter pole and posts with footing and pedestal; or two 10-KVA generators and floodwater pump.