“Nasaan ang transparency?” A student from Barangay Santa Barabara questions scholarship selection in their community

IGUIG, Cagayan — “Nasaan ang transparency?”

This is the question raised by a college student from Barangay Sta. Barbara here over the selection of beneficiaries for the Bagong Pilipinas Barangay Presidential Scholars Program, saying she and other students were not informed that they could apply for the assistance.

The program is part of the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program (BBMP) under the Presidential Socio-Civic Projects Fund. DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2026-038 provides the implementing guidelines. Each barangay receives ₱200,000, of which ₱100,000 is for five Bagong Pilipinas Barangay Scholars at ₱20,000 each.

What does the guideline say about selection?

The important point is that the barangay is responsible for selecting the scholars, but it cannot simply select beneficiaries without regard to the program's criteria. 

According to the DILG guidelines: The barangay selects five incoming fourth-year college students for SY 2026–2027. Beneficiaries must be bona fide residents of the barangay. They should belong to vulnerable households at risk of dropping out because of financial difficulties. Preference is given to students whose families have no member who has completed tertiary education. Barangays may impose additional eligibility criteria, but these must be properly documented and implemented in a “just, fair, and transparent manner.”

The student reached out to GuruPress Cordillera on Thursday, August 27, to raise concerns about what she described as a lack of transparency in the selection process. She requested anonymity to protect her identity.

According to the student, there was no publicly announced application process in their barangay, leaving other college students unaware that they could be considered for the scholarship.

She also questioned the selection of some beneficiaries, saying they were allegedly related to barangay officials.

“Similar po sa case sa isang munisipyo sa Cagayan, yung mga beneficiaries, mismong kamag-anak ng barangay officials po namin,” she alleged.

The student also questioned whether the selected beneficiaries met what she understood to be the program's qualifications, particularly its intended assistance to students from financially struggling households.

“Nakalagay po sa qualifications na dapat poorest of the poor pero in their case po sila lahat may kaya, hindi rin po mga first generation college students,” she said.

She further claimed that students in the barangay were not informed that the scholarship program was open for applications.

“Wala rin pong nangyaring application, sila-sila lang po ang nakaalam sa scholarship program, ni hindi nila sinabi sa amin na open na po ang application, sila-sila lang po ang nagselect na lang,” she said.

For the student, the lack of information meant that other college students did not have an opportunity to express their interest or have their qualifications considered.

“Hindi nga rin po nila pinaalam sa amin na meron po palang scholarship na ganyan para po sana ay nakapag-apply pa ang iba,” she said.

She said the concern is particularly important because Sta. Barbara is relatively remote and some residents may not have regular access to the internet, making local announcements important in reaching potential beneficiaries.

Student seeks explanation

The student said she previously asked how the beneficiaries were selected.

According to her, she was told that relatives of barangay officials were included so the assistance could supposedly be distributed among college students in the community.

She questioned the arrangement, saying that other students were not given an opportunity to apply or be considered.

The student also expressed concern over what she described as limited information from the barangay regarding the scholarship.

“Hindi po nila pinaalam, wala pong updates regarding diyan ang barangay namin. Hindi po sila transparent,” she said.

₱20,000 assistance

The Bagong Pilipinas Barangay Presidential Scholars Program provides a one-time ₱20,000 “finisher fund” intended to assist qualified college students with expenses related to completing their education.

The student said she believes there are other college students in the barangay who may be experiencing greater financial difficulties and who should have been given an opportunity to apply.

For her, the issue is not simply about who received the assistance but whether the selection process was sufficiently transparent and whether qualified students were given a fair opportunity to be considered.

She appealed to barangay officials to ensure that government assistance programs are implemented fairly and that residents are properly informed about opportunities available to them.

“Sana po ay maging mas transparent kayo sa mga mamamayang inyong pinaglilingkuran. Iwasan din po sana ang ‘palakasan system.’ Tandaan niyo po na kayo ay mga opisyal ng barangay at hindi lamang ng inyong pamilya. Huwag niyo pong kalilimutan na tungkulin niyo po ang maglingkod nang patas at pantay sa lahat ng inyong nasasakupan,” she said.

Barangay asked for their side

GuruPress Cordillera attempted to contact the Barangay Captain of Sta. Barbara to obtain the barangay's side regarding the scholarship selection process and the concerns raised by the student. However, the message had not been answered at the time of writing.

GuruPress Cordillera has looked into facebook pages of Barangay Santa Barbara, Iguig Cagayan where they could post the said call for application and the selection process as well as selected beneficiaries but did not find any. What was seen is only the SK FB Page whose postings are not updated. Apart from these, Guru Press Cordillera has not independently been able to go to the barangay concerned to check their bulletin boards to verify the allegations raised by the student.

To protect the source, GuruPress Cordillera is withholding the student’s identity and other details that could potentially identify her.

The publication remains open to the response, clarification or explanation of the barangay officials concerned.