(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the distribution of P8 billion to 42,000 barangay (villages) nationwide to cushion the impact of the Middle East war at the grassroots level, the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) announced on Thursday.
In a statement, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto noted that 42,000 villages nationwide would receive P200,000 each under the administration’s “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” program for their educational, social and economic projects.
The first batch of 5,000 villages received their allocation on March 24.
“Support will be provided directly to the barangay. The president ordered that they be strengthened because these frontliners are the closest to the people. They are the first to see a problem and they should also be the ones who have the ability to act immediately,” Recto said in Filipino.
The fund may be used for the procurement of street lights, patrol vehicles and CCTVs to promote safety or power generators to supply electricity to health centers and evacuation centers during disasters.
It may also be spent on a “finisher program” for residents who are college seniors so that their graduation will not be “derailed or delayed” by the economic disturbance caused by hostilities in the Middle East.
“We are protecting the dreams of students who are already within reach of graduation. We will not let them quit in their final year of school,” Recto said.
To ensure the seamless and speedy release of funds, the Office of the President has partnered with the Liga ng mga Barangay in mobilizing recipients and monitoring fund use.
Overseeing the implementation is the Department of the Interior and Local Government, whose field offices must ensure that fund use will comply with public budgeting, accounting and audit rules.
Grant distribution must be completed before June 2026 and all funds must be utilized by the end of the year, Recto said.
Returning OFWs
Also on Thursday, President Marcos said the government was working closely with the private sector to provide returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from conflict-affected areas in the Middle East with new employment opportunities.
Marcos presided over a meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council, where they discussed strategies to mitigate the impact of the war in the Middle East.
"The positive outcome here is that what we are planning to do in the government aligns very well with the recommendations of our private sector advisors on how to mitigate the effects of what is happening in the Middle East," Marcos said during an interview with Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Wednesday.
"So, we have the same thinking... we are on the same page," he added.
The president said that various proposals were discussed, including job creation and workforce development during the meeting that lasted for more than an hour.
He said the government was also accelerating training programs to help displaced OFWs quickly reenter the labor force.
"What we prioritized there were the OFWs who have returned home. What will happen to them now? So we are finding ways to help them, so that if they are ready, they can find new jobs," the president said.
"We have accelerated our previous system so their training can be completed faster, and they can get back to work more quickly," he added.
Marcos also said that assistance was being extended to those who prefer to start their own businesses, including access to financing and other forms of support.
The president emphasized that micro, small and medium enterprises would play a key role in absorbing workers and sustaining economic activity.
"We also have programs for those who don’t want to be employees and prefer to start their own business. They can set up their own enterprise, and we help them with that as well. This includes support such as loans and other assistance," he said.
During the same interview, Marcos said the Philippines would “take full advantage” of the two-week ceasefire between Iran, the United States, and Israel to secure sufficient petroleum supply for the country.
The truce was agreed upon after more than a month of conflict in the Middle East, which triggered a fuel price spike in several countries.
"So we will take full advantage of the two weeks to increase our supply as much as possible and to continue to make whatever arrangements are possible," Marcos said.
"We are all hoping and praying that the two-week ceasefire will extend further if the talks go well. I think that everybody around the table is willing and desirous... they really want to end this conflict. So hopefully all the parties will come together," he added.
Marcos said that the country would also take advantage of its agreement with Iran that allowed Philippine-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
He said he hoped that it was enough to bring down the prices of fuel products.
"Hopefully, the price of oil will go down a bit, but we’ll have to see. Because it’s so volatile, two weeks may not be enough time to bring the prices down," the president said.
