CLARK, Pampanga, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” Project and the Orientation of Presidential Scholars held at the Clark Picnic Grounds within the Clark Aviation Capital on Thursday, May 14.
During the event, President Marcos shared words of encouragement and inspiration with the scholars and beneficiaries, while also overseeing the distribution of assistance under the government’s Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) initiatives.
The “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” Program aims to directly assist low-income families by empowering local government units to implement community-based support programs and essential public services.
Held at the newly refurbished Clark Picnic Grounds, the event also highlighted the Clark International Airport Corporation’s (CIAC) ongoing efforts to develop the Clark Aviation Capital and advance its flagship infrastructure and urban renewal projects.
“We are honored to welcome President Marcos Jr. and grateful for his recognition of the development initiatives being undertaken here in Clark,” said CIAC President and CEO Jojit Alcazar.
As part of the program, 505 barangays in Pampanga and 33 barangays in Angeles City each received ₱200,000 in financial assistance.
Under the guidelines of the initiative, half of the allocation, or ₱100,000 per barangay, will be earmarked for scholarship assistance. Each barangay will identify five student-beneficiaries who will receive ₱20,000 each, with priority given to students at risk of dropping out due to financial hardship.
Twenty-two Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) presidents attended the ceremonial turnover of checks on behalf of their respective barangays, while around 400 scholars participated in the orientation program.
In his message, President Marcos emphasized that the initiative seeks to strengthen barangays by equipping local officials with resources needed to address community needs and improve the delivery of basic services.
The administration also continued its food security initiatives through the LGSF Rice Distribution Program, during which 1,500 Aeta beneficiaries received rice assistance.
Last month, CIAC formally opened the refurbished Clark Picnic Grounds to the public as part of its Urban Renewal and Heritage Conservation Program, one of the agency’s seven flagship initiatives aimed at transforming Clark into a vibrant, modern, and inclusive public space.
