Abante Barangay envisions that the smallest political unit, the Barangay, is the core enabler to attain better quality of life for an individual. Abante Barangay echoes the thrust of “human development” which is about expanding the richness of human life, rather than simply the richness of the economy in which human beings live. It is through these ideals that Abante Barangay believes in quality and affordable education and economic empowerment as the door to opportunity. Abante Barangay is here to create opportunities. It is devoted to programs such as ‘SugboNar’ – an online discussion forum where topics of public interest are conducted twice a month. These discussions offer views and opinions that help Barangay audiences form their decisions on issues that matter such as those of health, business and economic enterprise, social concerns and human relations. It has carried out various initiatives such as college scholarship program, medical missions and feeding programs, distribution of desktop computers and peripherals to barangays and public schools, livelihood programs such as urban gardening and "bugasan sa kababayen-an", among others. At the midst of pandemic, Abante Barangay sees the silver lining and commits to take on an urgent task - to help build communities and institutions suited for the new normal and pursue a development agenda that is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. In September 2020, Abante Barangay launched Project54+ to help students cope with the challenges brought by new normal education. It has distributed laptops, tablets, and portable wifi to 100 students. Abante Barangay intends to continue with the commitment to help in education and economic empowerment. It welcomes and ready to welcome all barangay members from all walks of life - workers, farmers, urban poor, students, youth, professionals, women, senior citizens, PWD, LGBTQIA+, and everyone who shares its aspirations. Abante Barangay was established on September 10, 2011, through the initiative of Atty. Aristotle “Totol” Batuhan – an economist and lawyer by training, a family man, a son of Cebu.
