Zamboanga del Norte Provides Rescue Vehicles to 22 Barangays

Residents of the 22 barangays of Sirawai are expected to benefit from faster emergency response and improved patient transport following the turnover of rescue vehicles by the Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Norte.

Mayor Aljazar P. Janihim thanked the provincial government, saying the assistance was the largest of its kind that the municipality had received. He noted that Sirawai’s remote location makes it difficult to transport patients and ensure their timely arrival at medical facilities.

With rescue vehicles now available to some barangays, local officials expect fewer difficulties in responding to emergencies and transporting patients who need immediate medical attention.

The provincial government, under Governor Darel Dexter T. Uy, formally turned over 20 rescue vehicles, one multipurpose utility vehicle, and one service pickup during a ceremonial event.

Governor Uy emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation among local government units to ensure that government assistance reaches communities and addresses their needs. (Source of report and photo: PIA 9)

Laoag City Honors 10 Barangays for Child-Friendly Programs

 

The Laoag City government, through its City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), recognized 10 barangays on October 20, 2026, for their outstanding child welfare programs and community protection initiatives.

The awards recognize barangays that promote children’s rights to healthcare, education, protection from abuse, a clean environment, and overall development. An inter-agency panel evaluated their child protection policies, health services, and educational support programs.

2026 Most Child-Friendly Barangay Awardees

1. 1st Place: Barangay 1 (San Lorenzo) — its third championship

2. 2nd Place: Barangay 30-A (Suyo)

3. 3rd Place: Barangay 2 (Sta. Joaquina)

4. 4th Place: Barangay 10 (San Jose)

5. 5th Place: Barangay 12 (San Isidro)

Five other barangays were named finalists: Barangays 13, 55-C, 51-A, 55-A, and 51-B.

Special Award for Child Welfare Service

Regina Bartolome of Barangay 51-B (Nangalisan West) received the Child Welfare Service Award for her dedication to childcare and advocacy. She highlighted her efforts to sustain feeding programs and other activities despite limited funding and daily challenges.

Mayor James Bryan Alcid emphasized that protecting children requires the shared commitment of barangay officials and parents. He also reaffirmed the city’s support for public education, pediatric healthcare, and safe community facilities.

Through these initiatives, Laoag City aims to strengthen child-friendly governance and ensure that every child grows up in a safe, supportive, and nurturing community. (Source of report and photo: PIA Ilocos Norte)

South Cotabato Barangay Boosts Public Service with Newly Acquired Office Equipment

Barangay Improgo in Banga, South Cotabato, has acquired a laptop, printer, and projector through the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Presidential Assistance under the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF).

The new equipment is expected to help barangay officials manage records, prepare documents, conduct presentations, and carry out community programs more efficiently.

The added resources will also help improve office operations and communication with residents, allowing barangay personnel to provide faster and more responsive public services.

The Barangay Council expressed gratitude for the assistance, saying the equipment will strengthen local administration and help improve services for the community.

The initiative is part of the government’s continuing efforts to provide barangays with the resources they need to improve governance and support grassroots development. (Source of report and photo PIA 12)

Marikina barangay exchanges plastic bottles for rice

Residents of Barangay Tumana in Marikina City can now exchange two kilograms of plastic bottles for one kilogram of rice under the “Palit Basura” program launched on October 20, 2026.

Led by the sixth Barangay Council, headed by Chairperson Akiko Centeno, in partnership with Evergreen Labs Philippines Inc., the program encourages residents to recycle plastic waste and help prevent clogged drainage systems and flooding.

Collected plastic bottles will be sent to recycling partners for processing into PET materials and recycled plastic boards, an alternative to plywood.

Weekly collections are scheduled from Tuesday to Friday, covering different areas of the barangay. The program is currently open only to Tumana residents, although officials are considering expanding it to nearby barangays.

In August 2026, Tumana also introduced a similar initiative that allowed residents to exchange plastic bottles for school supplies. (Source of report and photo: Manila Bulletin)

New barangay hall opens in Zambales

 

The Office of Zambales’ First Congressional District turned over a new barangay hall to Barangay Ilwas, Subic, on October 10, 2026, to improve local government services for its residents.

Congressman Jefferson F. “Jay” Khonghun and Subic Mayor Jon Khonghun led the turnover ceremony. Barangay Captain Jen Simbol received the facility, witnessed by other local officials and representatives of senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and the LGBTQ community.

Khonghun said the project aims to provide residents with more accessible, efficient, and better local government services.

Barangay Ilwas has about 2,942 residents, who are expected to benefit from the new facility as their barangay government’s official workplace. (Source of report and photo: Daily Tribune)

Farm-to-Market Road Cuts Travel Time for Bontoc Farmers

 

Farmers in Barangay Bayyo, Bontoc, Mountain Province, are saving time traveling to their farms following the completion of a new farm-to-market road funded through the ₱52.5-million Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).

Resident Ringo Dayowan said the road has shortened trips that previously took 30 minutes to an hour. Farmers can now travel more easily using hand tractors and transport their agricultural supplies and products.

The road is one of eight development projects worth ₱52.5 million across six barangays in Bontoc. As of September 30, 2026, four projects had been completed.

These include solar-powered pathway lights in Barangays Alab Proper and Balili, benefiting 238 and 230 residents, respectively, and the rehabilitation of the Level II water system in Barangay Talubin.

Other projects still underway include upgrading the water system in Barangay Maligcong and rehabilitating the Bontoc Public Market in Barangay Poblacion.

The projects aim to improve access to basic services, support local livelihoods, and enhance community living conditions across Bontoc. Read Full Report 

DILG-NCR Trains Barangay Leaders to Strengthen Community Resilience

The Department of the Interior and Local Government–National Capital Region (DILG-NCR) launched the first batch of the BRAVE Resilience Cohort Program for Punong Barangays on October 12–13, 2026. The two-day program brought together barangay captains, barangay councilors, and other key representatives from selected barangays in Marikina, Pasig, and Quezon City.

First introduced in 2024 to help communities prepare for “The Big One,” the program now focuses on strengthening the leadership skills of the officials responsible for disaster preparedness.

Under the theme “Navigating the Me to We Journey in Barangay Governance,” the program encouraged barangay leaders to move away from a kanya-kanya (every person for themselves) mindset and embrace a sama-sama (working together) approach. It emphasized that disaster preparedness is most effective when officials and residents work as one community.

Subject matter experts Carmen Leonor I. Diokno, Anna Louisa E. Cortez, and Edwina A. Busteneyra led a session on the “Me to We” approach to barangay governance. The activities encouraged participants to examine their own leadership habits before learning how to build stronger teamwork and more inclusive communities.

Through practical exercises, the participants explored the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. They also learned how to turn differing opinions into opportunities for cooperation and create safe spaces where officials and residents can speak openly and constructively.

Using the Why-What-How framework, the participants connected their personal reasons for entering public service with a broader commitment to compassionate governance. The session stressed that effective public service requires not only hard work but also genuine concern for people.

The training also highlighted four core values:

• maTatag (resilient): Taking responsibility instead of making excuses.

• maLingap (caring): Listening carefully rather than making assumptions.

• Handa (prepared): Turning fear into clear and focused action.

• maAgap (proactive): Anticipating problems instead of simply reacting to them.

Rather than relying on lectures alone, the first day used games, paired listening exercises, and storytelling to encourage participation. It ended with a Sama-Sama Circle, where participants shared their key lessons and reflections.

Day 2: From Leadership to Disaster Preparedness

The second day focused on practical disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies that barangays can apply in their communities.

LGOO III Elgreco B. Flores of the Local Government Capability Development Division–Capacity Development and Technical Assistance Section (LGCDD-CDTAS) led the morning review and discussion of lessons from the first day.

Richard L. Ybañez, chief science research specialist of the UP Resilience Institute, then delivered a refresher session on the fundamentals of resilience at the barangay and community levels.

Participants also joined a workshop titled “Tindig Barangay: Sharing Community Resilience Best Practices,” facilitated by Flores. During the workshop, barangay officials shared actual strategies their communities had used to prepare for and withstand crises.

The exchange allowed participants to learn from one another, compare local practices, and identify approaches they could adapt to improve their own disaster preparedness efforts.

In the afternoon, Dennis R. de Paz, assistant division chief of the LGCDD, conducted a refresher session on the Operation Listo manuals and Operation Listo si KAP. The session connected the leadership and teamwork lessons from the first day with practical disaster preparedness procedures that barangays can use.

Building Stronger, More Prepared Communities

By combining leadership development with practical disaster preparedness training, the BRAVE Resilience Cohort Program aims to build a stronger culture of responsibility, cooperation, and care among barangay officials.

As Metro Manila continues to face climate-related hazards and the threat of major earthquakes, barangay leaders play a vital role in preparing their communities for emergencies.

The program underscores an important lesson: effective disaster preparedness requires more than plans and procedures. It also depends on leaders who listen, take responsibility, look ahead, and unite residents toward a common goal.

When barangay officials and their communities work together, they are better prepared not only to face disasters but also to recover and emerge stronger.(Story and photo source: DILG-NCR)