93 Barangay Officials in Luna, Apayao complete two-day workshop for 2026 budget preparation

Luna, Apayao - Barangay Officials are expected to fast track their budget preparation following the completion of their 2-day 2026 budget preparation workshop which ran from August 7-8, 2025, held at the Municipal Conference Hall, Poblacion, Luna, Apayao.

Said workshop was the answer to the clamor of the barangay officials for training to avoid having to experience revising, reprinting, and resubmitting their budget after several corrections. This can incur loss of time and resources.

During the said workshop aimed at equipping the participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively prepare the annual budget for fiscal year 2026, Municipal Budget Officer Teresa Bullaoit encouraged the barangay officials to do well, saying, “lalaingen yu iti agtraining tapno iti kasta ket maragsakan ni Mayor Garde nga nangpondo ken atoy nga training yu ken ti kasta ket haan tu met agsubli subli tay papel yun.”

According to MLGOO Joan-Ana Dumalsin, the main challenge being faced by the officials is the lack of information and limited understanding in budgeting procedures and requirements, and thus the workshop is helpful to inform them of changes in guidelines regarding the preparation of the annual budget plan.

Dumalsin said that through the Office of the Budget Officer, barangay officials were taught how to prepare their financial work plan, budget preparation, budget cycle, and budget accountability. They also learned how to make their Annual Investment Plan (AIP) and the Annual Procurement Plan (APP) and Project Procurement Management Plan (PPMPs).

Last July, Mayor Januario S. Garde promised to donate his first salary to train barangay officials in efficient and timely preparation and submission of Annual Budget, saying, "I saw the bigger picture, Kasanu nga mandaram ni apo kapitan, treasurer, wennu secretary nu kurang met ti knowledge and skills tapno iti kasta maka-aramid da wennu makaisagana iti napintas nga annual budget… isunga imbagak kenni MLGOO nga idonate ko ti umuna nga sweldok para ti training da.”

The barangay budget preparation for the 2026 fiscal year occurs between August and December 2025, with the annual budget submission due in October 2025.

MLGOO Joan-Ana Dumalsin hopes that with the workshop done, all barangay budgets are prepared in a timely, legal and fiscally sound manner, aligning with the national and local development goals.