BY: RHEN DE GUZMAN
Barangays across the country no longer need a permit from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to hold bingo fundraisers, this, after a landmark decision from the Supreme Court last April 22, 2025.
The case stemmed from an incident in Baguio City years ago, when the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) led by former Liga President Hon. Rufino Panagan conducted a bingo fundraiser to buy garbage trucks for their communities.
“We were always blamed for uncollected garbage,” Panagan said in a phone interview. “So we decided to raise our own funds to buy trucks. With the amount we raised, we bought five garbage trucks.”
However, the city government at the time, under then-Mayor Braulio Yaranon, stopped the activity, citing the lack of a permit from PAGCOR, which regulates all bingo operations in the country.
The ABC board responded by filing a case, which they won at the Baguio Regional Trial Court Branch 5.
Atty. Edgar Avila, legal counsel for the ABC, explained, “The Regional Court upheld the power of barangays to raise funds for their own community activities.”
“The ruling affirms that barangays can fundraise independently. They don’t need permits from PAGCOR or even the mayor’s office because it’s not a business, it’s a community activity,” he added.
This ruling is grounded in Chapter 4, Section 391 of the Local Government Code, which states that barangay councils do not need permission from the local government to conduct fundraisers.
The city government challenged the ruling, bringing it to the Court of Appeals, and then to the Supreme Court, which upheld the earlier decisions in favor of the ABC.
“This ruling has a vast impact,” Avila said. “It means all barangay units across the Philippines can hold fundraising activities through any mode, except during election periods.”
The only requirement is for the barangay to pass a resolution clearly stating the purpose of the fundraiser and where the funds will be used.
“If the fundraiser is successful, the money can support community programs like fiestas, infrastructure, or other needs,” said current ABC President Hon. Rocky Aliping. “As long as it benefits the barangay, it should be allowed, just don’t abuse it.”
Under the ruling, barangays can hold bingo fundraisers in any part of their area, as long as the proceeds go directly to programs that support their residents, not for profit.
