DBM releases P8.08 B to fast-track development in insurgency-cleared barangays

Following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that no community is left behind, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P8.08 billion to fund priority projects in over 800 cleared barangays under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) – Support to the Barangay Development Program (SBDP) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

This funding release directly carries out the directive of the President to guarantee that even the most remote and previously conflict-affected communities benefit from government programs under the banner of “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang.

The corresponding Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) was approved by DBM Secretary Rolando “Rolly” U. Toledo on March 17, 2026.

Said  SBDP is a key pillar of the 2026 LGSF program recently launched by the President, aimed at accelerating inclusive growth, strengthening local governance, and addressing the root causes of conflict through responsive and community-driven development.

“This release is in direct compliance with the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that no community is left behind and that development reaches even the most remote barangays,” Secretary Toledo said.

“At kapag sinabi ng Pangulo na ‘Bawat Bayan Makikinabang,’ malinaw na kasama rito ang bawat barangay—lalo na ang mga dating apektado ng kaguluhan. Through this fund, we are empowering local communities, improving access to basic services, and creating real opportunities for our kababayans to live safer, more productive, and more dignified lives.”

Direct benefits: roads, schools, tubig, kuryente, at serbisyong malapit sa tao

The LGSF-SBDP provides direct funding to barangays for priority projects identified through the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) and integrated into Barangay Development Plans.

These projects translate into tangible, life-changing benefits for ordinary Filipinos, including farm-to-market roads that lower transport costs and increase farmers’ income, school buildings that improve access to quality education, water systems that ensure safe and reliable drinking water, health stations that bring basic healthcare closer to families, and electrification projects that power homes, businesses, and livelihoods.

By delivering these essential services, the program helps stimulate local economies, create jobs, and strengthen trust between communities and government—key foundations for lasting peace and national development.

808 barangays to benefit from early fund release

For FY 2026, a total of 808 insurgency-cleared barangays have been identified as beneficiaries of the LGSF-SBDP. Consistent with the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act (Republic Act No. 12314), the DBM ensures the timely release of funds within the first quarter, allowing local government units (LGUs) to immediately implement projects once documentary requirements are completed.

The guidelines for fund release and utilization are outlined under Local Budget Circular No. 168 dated 16 February 2026, ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficient implementation.

Peace through development, development through empowered communities

Through the LGSF-SBDP, the national government continues to demonstrate that peace is sustained not only through security efforts, but through real, visible development on the ground. By investing in barangays, the government is laying the foundation for a stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient Philippines—where every community, no matter how far, moves forward together.