BDOF, DepEd, BSP promote financial inclusion
In keeping with a shared goal to promote financial inclusion, BDO Foundation (BDOF) joined forces with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to develop a financial literacy program for teachers, non-teaching personnel and students.
The initiative, called the Financial Literacy Program for Schools, was launched recently in an event attended by DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier, DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito Umali and DepEd Undersecretary Victoria Catibog. Also in attendance were BDOF trustee Nestor Tan, treasurer Lucy Co Dy, corporate secretary Lazaro Jerome Guevarra, trustee Ma. Corazon Mallillin and president Mario Deriquito.
“Our goal is to help students learn the value of saving so they can prepare for the future at an early stage in their lives. To achieve this goal, we recognize the need for teach- ers to acquire knowledge that will enable them to manage their personal resources more responsibly and teach students personal finance effectively,” according to Deriquito.
“By sharing lessons on financial responsibility with educators and the Filipino youth, we hope to promote financial inclusion and contribute to the development of a financially literate citizenry,” Deriquito added.
Launched in time for the start of a new school year, the Financial Literacy Program for Schools is BDO Foundation’s flagship corporate citizenship initiative in fulfillment of its financial inclusion advocacy.
The program is aimed at supporting DepEd’s efforts to strengthen financial literacy in its K-12 curriculum and provide financial literacy education for its teaching and non-teaching personnel. It also contributes to the pillar on financial education and consumer protection of BSP’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion.
The educational initiative is expected to benefit as many as 700,000 teachers and 24 million students in more than 47,000 public schools nationwide.
The financial literacy program is one of several BDO Foundation initiatives aligned with the goals of DepEd. The foundation supports DepEd’s Adopt A School program by constructing school buildings in calamity-stricken provinces nationwide as well as the annual Brigada Eskwela program. It also participates in the nationwide celebration of National Teachers Month and World Teachers Day.