Baguio City— Barangay Cawag and Barangay Calapandayan were recognized as 2025 Best Barangay Regional Awardees, joining forty-two barangays across the Province of Zambales honored for exemplary local governance and public service.
The awards were conferred during a ceremony held at the Baguio Convention Center on Wednesday, February 18, in conjunction with the Liga ng mga Barangay Convention 2026.
The BEST Barangay Program is an initiative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region III aimed at recognizing barangays that demonstrate excellence in governance, innovation, transparency, and delivery of public services.
The awarding ceremony was led by DILG Regional Director Araceli A. San Jose, CESO III; DILG-Zambales Assistant Provincial Director Melissa D. Nipal; and Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB)-Zambales President BM Nestor E. Pacheco.
The recognized barangays came from the municipalities of Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Antonio, Iba, Candelaria, Masinloc, and Sta. Cruz.
According to DILG, the recognition affirms the strong leadership, effective governance, and unwavering commitment of barangay officials in delivering quality services to their constituents.
Meanwhile, five barangays from Castillejos — Looc, Magsaysay, San Jose, San Juan, and San Pablo — were also honored as 2025 Best Barangay Regional Awardees, further highlighting the municipality’s dedication to grassroots excellence.
This achievement underscores the continued efforts of local government units in Zambales to uphold transparency, accountability, and responsive public service at the community level.