For a brighter financial future
For most people, it is true that education matters when it comes to getting ahead in life. But now, more than ever, financial literacy and awareness is equally important to move forward.
About 80 million Filipinos or 78 percent of the population reportedly do not have access to financial services and are forced to rely on inconvenient and often risky means to manage their money. If this trend continues, these individuals are in danger of being trapped in a cycle of poverty without the ability to build better lives for themselves.
This is why the Department of Education, Meralco-Bayad Center and Marylindbert International teamed up for an advocacy called Bayad Center “Sapat Dapat” Comprehensive School Program, which aims to enhance and contribute to the financial awareness, education and literacy of Filipinos.
A partnership-sealing ceremony was recently held at The Lighthouse, Meralco Compound in Pasig City. Present at the event were Department of Education Undersecretary Bayad Center president and CEO Manuel Lorenzo Tuason and Marylindbert International president and CEO Linda Legaspi.
“Since financial literacy is rarely taught in school, this program seeks to fill the gap. The program exposes our children to the basics of budgeting, spending and saving. These are practices that will help establish good money habits that will prove beneficial as they grow old,” noted Wendell Labre, Bayad Center marketing head, who spearheads the initiative.
“Bayad Center is here not just to bring convenience and accessibility to the paying public but we exist because we want to improve the financial transactions in the country. We hope the “Sapat Dapat” initiative will help expand financial know-how not only for students, but for the parents and teachers as well,” Tuason said.
On the other hand, Undersecretary Dig Dino said, “Soon enough, the younger generation will realize that accessing any financial services is the lifeblood of an economy that would enable households and businesses alike to save, invest and protect themselves against risk.”
For her part, Legaspi explained, “If an individual or a household learns the importance of accessing financial services, he or she can save and plan for emergencies. By explaining to children how much money their family has to spend every week and how this money is spent, these children will better understand the cost of family life and how much can be saved for other things. Every member of the household can soon enjoy financial security and learn the skills to ‘get ahead’ instead of just ‘getting by’.”