Executive Secretary Ralph Recto oversees the distribution of financial assistance to Cavite barangays on Sept. 11 under the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang program, which allocated Php 154 million for college students and community development and public safety projects. Photo courtesy of the Office of Executive Secretary/Facebook
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto oversaw the distribution of Php 154 million in assistance to barangays across Cavite, with the funds split between education support and community development projects.
Half of the amount, or Php 77 million, was earmarked for 3,850 incoming fourth-year college students, each of whom is set to receive Php 20,000.
Another Php 77 million was allocated for barangay-level projects such as solar streetlights, patrol and emergency equipment, and disaster preparedness needs.
Under the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang program, each of Cavite’s 770 barangays was allotted Php 100,000 for student assistance and another Php 100,000 for local development and public safety projects.
The education component is being implemented through the Bagong Pilipinas Barangay Scholars Program, which will support five fourth-year college students in every barangay.
Recto said barangay officials were given a direct role in identifying which projects should be funded because they are in the best position to assess the needs of their communities.
The assistance came from the Socio-Civic Projects Fund administered by the Office of the Executive Secretary under the Office of the President.
The Php 6.6 million allocation for 33 barangays in General Trias had already been distributed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a visit in May, while Recto handled the broader provincial rollout on Sept. 11.