The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued implementing guidelines Monday for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bawat Barangay Makikinabang (BBM) Program, establishing the structure for a nationwide rollout across more than 42,000 barangays.

Under DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2026-038, each barangay in the country will receive a P200,000 grant sourced from the Office of the President through the Socio-Civic Projects Funds.

The initiative aims to strengthen local governance, support college students from vulnerable households, and address immediate community development needs.

Half of the allocation — P100,000 — is dedicated to the Bagong Pilipinas Barangay Scholars Program. Under this component, each barangay will select five incoming fourth-year college students for School Year 2026–2027 to receive a P20,000 “Finisher Fund” intended to cover essential academic expenses.

To qualify, beneficiaries must be bona fide residents of the barangay and belong to vulnerable households at risk of dropping out.

Guidelines state that preference will be given to students from families where no member has completed tertiary education.

Barangays may establish additional eligibility criteria, provided the selection process remains fair and transparent.

The remaining P100,000 is earmarked for the Assistance for the Barangay component, which supports operational and development priorities identified by local officials.

Eligible expenditures under this component include public service equipment, administrative and office equipment, streetlighting, and disaster risk reduction tools.

Barangays are permitted to augment the grant with local funds, but the guidelines explicitly prohibit using the assistance for infrastructure projects, honoraria, salaries, wages, or other personnel costs.

The DILG stressed that the guidelines were designed to ensure transparent and accountable implementation as part of the administration’s broader effort to invest in human capital and localized community development.