Bayad Center ‘SAPAT DAPAT’ Initiative
Moulding young minds for a brighter financial future
DID you know that 2 billion people worldwide do not have a bank account nor access to a financial institution? Here in the Philippines, the number is equally surprising: about 80 million Filipinos or 78 percent of the population 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 or are already trapped in a cycle of poverty, without the ability to build better lives for themselves.
This is why no less than the Department of Education, Meralco- Bayad Center, and Marylindbert International teamed up recently to embark on an advocacy called Bayad Center “Sapat Dapat” Comprehensive School Program. The program seeks to give children a more solid foundation, teaching them about money matters at an early age.
“Since financial literacy is rarely taught in school, this program seeks to fill the gap—exposing our children to the basics of budgeting, spending and saving will help establish good money habits which will prove beneficial as they grow old. Bayad Center “Sapat Dapat” Comprehensive School Program is a tool to expand financial know-how not only for the students, but for the parents and teachers as well,” notes Wendell Labre, Bayad Center’s Marketing Head who spearheads the initiative.
A partnership sealing ceremony for this advocacy was recently held at the The Lighthouse, Meralco Compound in Pasig City with DepEd Undersecretary Dr. Lorna Dig Dino, Bayad Center CEO Manuel Tuason , and Marylindbert International CEO Linda Legaspi gracing the event.
“Bayad Center is here to bring convenience and accessibility to the paying public. But more than that, we exist because we want to improve the financial transactions in the country moving forward,” Manuel Tuason explains. “Through this program, we hope to enhance and contribute to the financial awareness, education and literacy of Filipinos.”
Usec. Dig Dino explains that with the majority of individuals and small businesses still lacking access to even basic savings and credit products, this program would remind that teaching younger population the value of money through real life situations and examples will help them understand where money comes from and how it is earned.
Linda Legaspi, CEO and president of Marylindbert International, agrees: “It’s all about learning the skills to ‘get ahead’ instead of just ‘getting by’.”
CIS Bayad Center, Inc. is the country’s pioneer and premier multi-channel payment platform to date, and is a member of the Meralco Group of Subsidiaries.