Ten Outstanding Barangay Initiatives of 2025 recognized; 6 finalists also cited for community-driven solutions
Malacañan Palace — Ten barangays from across the Philippines were honored on Wednesday, December 1, as the Ten Outstanding Barangay Initiatives of 2025 in a Galing Pook Awards ceremony that put the spotlight squarely on grassroots governance.
Now on its 32nd year, the Galing Pook Awards made history by focusing exclusively on barangays for the first time, underscoring the role of the country’s smallest political units as frontliners in building resilient and empowered communities.
‘Our first line of defense’
Galing Pook Foundation Chairperson Mel Senen Sarmiento said the awardees show how local leadership and people’s participation can respond to some of today’s most pressing issues.
“Today, we honor our smallest political unit—the barangay—our first line of defense against climate risks, disinformation, crime, hunger, and inequality,” Sarmiento said in his message during the ceremony.
The winning programs were selected from 132 entries nationwide through a rigorous paper screening, on-site validation visits, and final presentations before a panel of judges.
Ten outstanding barangay initiatives
Listed alphabetically by barangay, the 2025 Galing Pook Awardees demonstrate how innovation, collaboration, and practical problem-solving can transform local communities. These are:
- SAMACA: Save Macabalo River Campaign – Brgy. 57 Dap-dap, Legazpi City, Albay
A multi-sectoral environmental rehabilitation drive that uses river trash traps, regular cleanups, composting, eco-gardens, and science-based artificial reefs to revive the Macabalo River. - Balulang BUSkwela: Driving Child Development through Provision, Protection, and Participation – Brgy. Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City
A child protection and education system anchored on a barangay-owned school bus, case management, and ALS partnerships to keep at-risk youth in school and away from danger. - The Big One: A Clustered Street Camp Evacuation Approach – Brgy. Blue Ridge B, Quezon City
A bottom-up earthquake preparedness model that organizes households into clustered street camps equipped with disaster drums and neighborhood-level incident command posts. - Barangay Daang Bakal Fights Hunger, Poverty and Climate Change with Unity and Passion – Brgy. Daang Bakal, Mandaluyong City
A livelihood and food security initiative that combines micro-baking enterprises, urban gardening, aquaponics, and recycling-for-goods exchanges to fight hunger and reduce waste. - Solar Power Revolution Program: Malvar’s CCAM Model for a Resilient and Sustainable Community – Brgy. General Malvar, Santiago City
A renewable energy program that now powers 340 solar lights, irrigation systems, health mobility services, and public facilities—helping drive a 91% reduction in crime and generating major energy savings for the community. - Purok Clearance – Brgy. Naggasican, Santiago City
A civic-duty checklist system that links access to barangay services with active community participation, transforming a former resettlement area into a highly engaged and orderly community. - Community Justice System in a Garden: Planting Peace in Every Step for Balon Pantal – Brgy. Pantal, Dagupan City
A restorative justice model that holds mediation sessions in a landscaped “Justice Garden,” speeding up settlements and helping disputing parties repair relationships after conflict. - Dungog Kariton – Brgy. Poblacion, Tupi, South Cotabato
A mobile conflict-resolution initiative that brings mediation services directly to households and communities, addressing disputes that go beyond formal Katarungang Pambarangay cases. - Tripa de Gallina Reborn: Restoring Hope and Community Life – Brgy. San Isidro, Makati City
A comprehensive estero rehabilitation project combining relocation, fencing, regular cleanup, and community stewardship—resulting in zero flooding for two consecutive years in an area once plagued by chronic inundation. - BIGCAPS+: Barangay Innovative Governance for Community Assistance, Peace, and Security – Brgy. Tagas, Tabaco City, Albay
A governance reform program that integrates tech-enabled services, Filipino Sign Language training, and holistic social services to strengthen peace, safety, and public trust.
Finalists also celebrated
Six barangays were likewise recognized as 2025 Galing Pook Finalists for their outstanding initiatives. These are:
- Dunong Kabuhayan Center – Brgy. Culiat, Quezon City
- 1Namayan Web and Mobile App – Brgy. Namayan, Mandaluyong City
- From Waste to Worth: How Barangay Pagas Turned Trash into a Legacy – Brgy. Pagas, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija
- Kalingang Inan (Kalusugan Ingatan) Program – Brgy. Panacan, Narra, Palawan
- Barangay San Bartolome: Resilience and Readiness Hub (Project Kanlungan) – Brgy. San Bartolome, Quezon City
- Semirara Island Emergency Action Group (SIEAG) – Brgy. Semirara, Caluya, Antique
These programs span a wide range of concerns—from livelihood and social protection to disaster preparedness and emergency response—showing how even small communities can design context-specific, scalable solutions.
How the winners were chosen
The Galing Pook Awards uses a multi-stage selection process anchored on seven core criteria:
- Positive Results and Impact
- People’s Participation
- Innovation
- Sustainability
- Resilience
- Transferability
- Efficiency of Program Delivery
Entries undergo initial screening and eligibility checks, followed by on-site validation visits by the National Selection Committee to verify results and community involvement. Finalists then present before the Board of Judges, which deliberates and selects the final awardees.
Partners, prizes, and support
The 2025 Galing Pook Awards is organized by the Galing Pook Foundation in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Local Government Academy (LGA), SM Prime Holdings, Inc., and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK).
Each of the ten awardee barangays receives a Galing Pook Marker and a ₱300,000 cash prize from DILG–LGA to help sustain and expand their initiatives.
For Galing Pook Foundation, this year’s all-barangay roster sends a clear message: Innovative, responsive governance is alive at the grassroots—often in places with the least resources but the strongest sense of community.
