Students learn the value of ‘savings & protection’

The Cebu Institute of Technology University-College of Mining Engineering and BPI partnered for an in-campus project meant to educate young college students about the concept of saving and the unique idea of insurance protection thru BancAssurance.

The activity held on March 21 at the CIT-U college campus focused on the Fourth year class wherein the students who are about to start their on-the job training were exposed to the idea of maintaining a savings account and the concept of insurance protection through in-campus discussions, instant opening of accounts and off branch booking of bancassurance insurance protection.

Atty. Jeser M. Revalde of BPI Family Savings Bank encouraged students to maintain a bank account even beyond graduation in order to have a constant depository bank and to maintain long bank history records which can even help them when they apply visa for abroad. He likewise shared the story of two topnotchers in recent engineering board examination who had difficulty encashing their award money from the school due to lack of valid Identification Cards.

He emphasized that it is a common experience that after leaving school, a new graduate automatically loses his only valid ID, which is the school ID, and transacting with banks becomes a challenge. Old and existing bank account can mitigate such situations as any checks received by depositor could just be deposited on his existing account.

The activity was likewise intended to let attendees understand how the habit of saving affects the students’ future, the business and industry, and country’s economy as a whole. It was further emphasized that it is the thrust of the government for banks to help encourage all citizens to start saving through the banking system in order to prop-up the economy.

In full support, James Vincent-Marquez-Lim from “BPI On-Call” facilitated easy releasing of ATM-Debit cards on site just after 15 minutes from the opening of account, for great experience and convenience of the students.

Students who were about to be deployed to their on-thejob training and due for exposure to the different mining companies in different parts of the country were given special discussions on individual insurance protection. Regina Abad, Mabeth Jane Balbuena and several Bancassurance branch executives from BPIPhilAm, basically brought their whole office to the campus just to assist students in booking their insurance protection on the spot through online booking facility.

The participants were overly elated when they realized that by mere act of saving money through banks they can already contribute to the country’s economy and basically prepare them for eventualities of life ahead. They were likewise encouraged to know that their meager amount of investment thru BancAssurance protection could give them peace of mind while doing their challenging tasks in different mining projects.

Janica Michelle Medalle, president of the Philippine Society of Mining Engineers Visayas Student Chapter spearheaded the activity and was fully supported by the College of Engineering and Architecture.