Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso announced the release of more than P143 million in long-pending and newly allocated funds to the city’s 896 barangays, clearing backlogs that date back more than two years.
The budget release covers three main items — the Barangay Clearance Share from January 2023 to September 2025, the Barangay Development Fund for the 2025 fiscal year, and the 30 percent Real Property Tax share from July to November 2025.
Domagoso said the Barangay Clearance Share represents revenues the barangays are legally entitled to receive under a city ordinance passed during his earlier term, which aimed to streamline services in line with the Anti-Red Tape Act and the Ease of Doing Business law.
Manila City Treasurer Paul Vega explained that after the city shifted to a full online business permit system through the “Go Manila” platform, applicants no longer had to secure clearances directly from their barangays.
This resulted in centralized collections that accumulated but were not remitted for years.
Domagoso also authorized the release of the Barangay Development Fund, set at P12,000 per barangay for 2025 and included in the approved city budget.
The allocation is intended to support basic operational needs and small-scale community programs across the city.
In addition, the city released the 30 percent share of barangays from the city’s Real Property Tax collections, a mandated entitlement under the Local Government Code.