DBM releases P8.08B for projects in 800 insurgency-free barangays

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday said it has released P8.08 billion to fund priority projects in over 800 insurgency-cleared barangays.

This fund release is 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).

In a statement, the DBM said Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo approved the corresponding Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) on March 17, 2026.

The SBDP is a key pillar of the 2026 LGSF program recently launched by the President.

It is aimed at accelerating inclusive growth, strengthening local governance, and addressing the root causes of conflict through responsive and community-driven development, the DBM said.

“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,” Toledo said.

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.

The DBM said priority projects would 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.”

The release of funds within the first quarter of the year is consistent with the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) to allow local government units (LGUs) to immediately implement projects once documentary requirements are completed.

The DBM said the guidelines for fund release and utilization are outlined under Local Budget Circular No. 168 issued in February 2026, ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficient implementation. — JMA, GMA Integrated News