Every barangay in Bislig has a Barangay Population Volunteer (BPV), and the city now has a law that defines what they do and pays them for it. City Ordinance No. 2026-02, known as the "Barangay Population Volunteers Cash Incentives" ordinance, institutionalizes the role and provides a monthly cash incentive.

When it was passed

The Sangguniang Panlungsod enacted the ordinance on February 10, 2026, during its 30th regular session. It was authored by Councilor Pedrito R. Sulapas and sponsored by Councilors Romeo F. Cacayan, Bernadeth May R. Almanon-Balondo and Alfredo J. Carmelo, with Vice Mayor Conrad C. Cejoco. It takes effect upon the mayor's approval. The copy published on the city website carries Mayor Florencio C. Garay's signature but does not show a date of approval.

Who the volunteers are

The ordinance defines BPVs as appointed volunteer workers who monitor and carry out community-based population programs in their barangay. They work with the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), the national agency that coordinates the population program.

In its whereas clauses, the council noted that the city already appoints a BPV in every barangay and that a monthly incentive was needed to recognize and motivate them. It also cited DILG Memorandum Circular 2019-001, which directs local governments to tap and mobilize barangay officials and community volunteers, including population volunteers.

What they do

The ordinance lists the BPV's roles:

  • Planning: taking part in barangay planning for population and family planning programs.
  • Coordination: working with barangay officials, the assigned midwife or nurse, Barangay Nutrition Scholars and Barangay Health Workers, and facilitating related meetings.
  • Advocacy and implementation: promoting the program, helping map couples and individuals with unmet needs for modern family planning methods, and raising concerns with the City Population Officer.
  • Monitoring: tracking the program's status and the local enforcement of related laws and ordinances.
  • Resource mobilization: running community demand generation and referral activities, guided by informed choice and volunteerism.
  • Record keeping: documenting meetings and activities and preserving barangay population data for barangay officials and the City Health Office.

The ordinance requires all of this to follow the Data Privacy Act (Republic Act No. 10173).

The P500 monthly incentive

Each BPV in the city's 24 barangays receives P500 a month for calendar years 2025 to 2026. Starting in 2027, each barangay is to appropriate the P500 monthly incentive for its own volunteer. BPVs may also receive shirts or uniforms and other benefits the city provides.

The city allocated P210,000 to implement the ordinance.

How it is released and who appoints

The incentive is released monthly after the volunteer submits an accomplishment report to the Punong Barangay, who then recommends the release.

Appointments are made by the Punong Barangay, with the unanimous concurrence of the barangay council. The appointment is then endorsed to the City Population Officer.

Part of a wider push

The ordinance is one of several measures the council passed in 2026 that put volunteer and frontline community workers on a formal footing. Others include Ordinance No. 2026-24, the Child Development Workers' Code, and Ordinance No. 2026-13, which created the city's Local Youth Development Office.

Source: City of Bislig, Sangguniang Panlungsod Ordinance No. 2026-02 (enacted February 10, 2026), published on the city's Ordinances 2026 page at bislig.gov.ph.