Isko Moreno announces upcoming release of long-delayed funds worth over ₱143 million for Manila’s 896 barangays

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso on Monday, December 8, has announced the upcoming release of several long-pending budget items for the city’s 896 barangays worth over ₱143 million, clearing backlogs that span more than two years and activating new allocations under the 2025 budget.

The move covers the Barangay Clearance Share from January 2023 to September 2025, the Barangay Development Fund for fiscal year 2025, and the 30-percent Real Property Tax (RPT) share from July to November 2025.

Domagoso said the Barangay Clearance Share represents revenues that barangays are legally entitled to receive under a city ordinance passed during his earlier term, which aligned the city with the Anti-Red Tape Act and the Ease of Doing Business law.

Manila City Treasurer Atty. Paul Vega explained that once the city shifted to a full online business permit system through Go Manila, applicants no longer had to secure clearances directly from their barangays, resulting in centralized collections that accumulated but were not remitted for years.

The Mayor likewise authorized the release of the Barangay Development Fund, set at ₱12,000 per barangay for 2025 and included in the approved city budget.

While modest in amount, the allocation is expected to support basic operational needs and small-scale community programs across Manila’s 896 barangays.

Also announced was the release of the 30 percent share of barangays from the city’s RPT collections, a mandated entitlement under the Local Government Code.

The release covering July to November 2025 is part of the city’s ongoing effort to normalize fund transfers and ensure that barangays can rely on predictable revenue flows for their frontline services.

The City Treasurer’s Office said the combined scheduled releases across all six districts amount to more than ₱143 million as of October 30, 2025.