MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the release of P8 billion in assistance to over 42,000 barangays nationwide to help cushion the impact of the Middle East crisis, Malacañang said. Each barangay will receive P200,000 under the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” program to fund education, social and economic projects, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said Thursday, April 10. Up to 200,000 students nearing graduation could benefit from the program, the Office of the Executive Secretary said. “We will not allow them to stop in their final year of studies,” Recto said, referring to affected students. The program was rolled out on March 24, with 5,000 barangays receiving the initial batch of funds “without fanfare,” Recto said.

Source: Philippine Star April 10, 2026 02:07 UTC