President Marcos on Wednesday hailed this year’s top barangay initiatives as proof that good governance begins at the community level, praising local officials for crafting solutions that they never thought of at the national level, and showing how grassroots innovation strengthens public trust.

Speaking at the 2025 Galing Pook Awards for Barangay Initiatives in Malacañan, the President said barangays demonstrated that effective leadership does not require vast budgets, only clear goals, transparent systems, and genuine concern for residents.

“Sa barangay nagsisimula ang serbisyong pinakamalapit sa tao (Service closest to the people begins in the barangay),” he said on Wednesday, Dec. 3, adding that this year’s awardees showed how communities can drive progress even under difficult constraints.

Marcos cited projects that revived polluted waterways, brought children back to school, prepared residents for earthquakes, promoted renewable energy, improved access to health services, and created new community engagement programs.

“These programs prove that when we listen to what people actually need, real change happens,” he said.

“Ang naisip ninyong mga bagong project, hindi namin naisip sa national government yun (The projects you thought of, we did not conceive at the national level),” he added.

According to the President, the government will study how to replicate several barangay innovations nationwide, describing the awardees as “clear evidence” that effective governance grows from the ground up.

Among this year’s Galing Pook awardees are Barangay 57 Dap-dap, Legazpi City, for the revitalization of the Macabalo River; Barangay Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City, for their BUSkwela initiative that helps children get back to school; Barangay Blue Ridge B, Quezon City, for creating Street Camps, a system that prepares residents for earthquakes; and Barangay General Malvar, Santiago City, for their solar-power revolution program.

The President also recognized the urban gardens and palit-bote-para-sa-tinapay project of Barangay Daang Bakal, Mandaluyong City; the clearance-with-a-checklist program designed to increase community participation of Barangay Naggasican, Santiago City; the community justice garden of Barangay Pantal, Dagupan City; the sign language training of Barangay Tagas, Tabaco City; the Dungog Kariton project that aids conflict resolution of Barangay Poblacion, South Cotabato; and the rehabilitation of Tripa de Gallina spearheaded by Barangay San Isidro, Makati City.

Each of the awardees received a Galing Pook Marker and a P300,000 cash prize from the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Local Government Academy (DILG-LGA).

Marcos emphasized that transparent processes, accountability, and people-first policies build confidence in government.

“Kapag malinaw ang proseso ng pamahalaan, lumalakas ang tiwala ng ating mga kababayan (When government processes are clear, public trust grows),” he said.

He urged barangays to remain “tapat, bukas, at may direksyon” (honest, transparent, and purposeful), aligning community projects with the Bagong Pilipinas governance agenda.