MANILA—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recognized exemplary barangay programs from across the country during the 2025 Galing Pook Awards held in Malacañan Palace, emphasizing the critical role of barangays as the government’s closest service providers to the people.

“Nagtitipon tayo ngayon upang kilalanin ang sampung natatanging programa ng ating mga barangay…Sa barangay nagsisimula ang serbisyong pinakamalapit sa tao. Dito unang nararamdaman ng bawat mamamayan ang malasakit ng pamahalaan,” President Marcos said.

In his remarks, the President praised the awardees for demonstrating that effective governance is possible when processes are transparent and goals are pursued with accountability.

“Kapag malinaw ang proseso ng pamahalaan, lumalakas ang tiwala ng ating mga kababayan; kung may pananagutan, tumataas ang respeto ng mamamayan; at tuwing inuuna natin ang kapakanan ng taumbayan, sumusunod ang pag-unlad ng ating inang-bayan,” he said. “Ito ang kulturang nais nating ipalaganap sa pamahalaan, ganito ang serbisyo-publiko na dapat ramdam ng pamayanan: tapat, bukas, at may direksyon.”

Among the 2025 Galing Pook awardees are Barangay 57 Dap-dap, Legazpi City for revitalizing the Macabalo River; Barangay Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City for its BUSkwela program helping children return to school; Barangay Blue Ridge B, Quezon City for creating Street Camps to prepare residents for earthquakes; and Barangay General Malvar, Santiago City for its solar-power revolution initiative.

Also recognized were the urban gardens and palit-bote-para-sa-tinapay project of Barangay Daang Bakal, Mandaluyong City; the clearance-with-a-checklist program of Barangay Naggasican, Santiago City; the community justice garden of Barangay Pantal, Dagupan City; the sign language training program of Barangay Tagas, Tabaco City; the Dungog Kariton conflict-resolution initiative of Barangay Poblacion, South Cotabato; and the Tripa de Gallina rehabilitation led by Barangay San Isidro, Makati City.

Each awardee received a Galing Pook Marker and a P300,000 cash prize from the Department of the Interior and Local Government–Local Government Academy.

Marcos said that while the programs vary in form, they share one message: “Kapag tinutugunan natin ang pangangailangan ng tao, nagdudulot ito ng magandang pagbabago.”

He encouraged barangays nationwide to emulate the award-winning initiatives to strengthen governance systems at the community level.

“Let us strive to continue to replicate the success of these barangay initiatives on a national scale—learning what works and strengthening the systems that uphold efficiency, participation, and transparency in government,” he said.

The President also thanked the Galing Pook Foundation for promoting excellence and integrity in governance for more than three decades, urging awardees and finalists to continue serving their communities with dedication.

“Huwag niyo pong kakalimutan na dapat na malaki ang pasasalamat natin sa [pagpapaalala na ang pagbabago] at pag-unlad ay nagsisimula sa pinakamaliit na hakbang at lumalakas kapag tayo ay sama-samang kumikilos,” he said.