Bislig City residents who finish in the top 10 of a national licensure or bar examination can now claim a cash award from the city government, under a new ordinance that sets the reward at P50,000 for first place.
City Ordinance No. 2026-16, the "Bislig City Board/Bar Exam Topnotcher Incentive and Recognition Ordinance of 2026," was enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod on July 7, 2026, during its 51st regular session. Mayor Florencio C. Garay approved it on July 16, 2026, and it took effect immediately. It was authored by Councilor Apolio Alvar.
How much topnotchers get
Each qualified topnotcher receives a one-time cash incentive and a Plaque of Recognition:
- Top 1: P50,000
- Top 2: P30,000
- Top 3: P20,000
- Top 4 to Top 10: P10,000 each
The ordinance sets aside P200,000 for the program: P170,000 for cash awards and P30,000 for plaques and administrative costs. After the first year, the amount needed is to be included in the city's annual budget. Unused funds go back to the General Fund at year end.
Which exams count
The award covers top-10 finishes in any government-administered licensure exam given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the bar exams conducted by the Supreme Court, and exams of other government-authorized professional regulatory bodies recognized by law. That includes the licensure exams for teachers, nurses, engineers, accountants, criminologists and other PRC-regulated professions.
Who qualifies
To be eligible, the topnotcher must:
- Be a Filipino citizen
- Have been a bona fide resident of Bislig City for at least three years immediately before the exam, as certified by their barangay
- Have graduated from a recognized tertiary institution
- Have placed in the top 10, with official results to prove it
- Present a valid government-issued ID
- Not have been convicted by final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude
The ordinance does not require the topnotcher to have studied in a Bislig school. The deciding test is the three-year residency, certified by the barangay.
How to apply
Applications go to the City Mayor's Office within one year from the official release of the exam results. Claims are forfeited after that. The required documents are:
- Accomplished application form (available at the City Mayor's Office)
- Certified true copy of the official PRC or Supreme Court result or ranking
- Certificate or proof of residency from the barangay
- Diploma and transcript of records
- Valid ID and PRC ID or license
- Birth certificate, as proof of citizenship
The Mayor's Office forwards the papers to the City Human Resource Management Office, which checks them with the City Legal Office, the Local Civil Registrar and the barangay before endorsing qualified applicants back to the mayor. The award is personal and cannot be transferred.
The ordinance gave the Mayor's Office 60 days from effectivity to issue implementing rules.
Part of a wider push
The topnotcher award is one of several recognition measures the council passed this year. Ordinance No. 2026-23, enacted August 11, sets up an Academic Excellence Recognition System for colleges and universities in Bislig that produce board and bar topnotchers. Ordinance No. 2026-20, enacted August 4, provides cash incentives for individuals and groups who excel in sports, academic, skills and talent competitions, and for their coaches and trainers.
In its preamble, Ordinance 2026-16 says the goal is to encourage Bisliganon students and professionals to pursue excellence and to recognize those who bring honor to the city.
Source: City of Bislig, Sangguniang Panlungsod Ordinance No. 2026-16 (enacted July 7, 2026; approved July 16, 2026) and the city's 2026 ordinance listing, published on bislig.gov.ph.