• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The city government of Victorias in Negros Occidental signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) on Tuesday, becoming the first local government unit in the province to partner with the bank’s financial literacy initiatives.
The Financial Education Program offered by BPI aims to empower communities and guide them through their financial journey.
Carmina Marquez, BPI Foundation executive director, stated in an interview that they had launched the bank’s “FinEd Unboxed,” a financial literacy book designed to help Filipinos enhance their knowledge of financial management.
As Victorias City became its pioneering beneficiary, the bank plans to reach all barangays in the city to conduct financial education programs, with the goal of equipping various sectors with essential financial management skills.
“We chose Victorias because it has a good track record of good governance, and that shared value aligns with our commitment to our constituents,” Marquez emphasized.
The program has also been implemented in various schools and universities across the country, including the University of Saint La Salle in Bacolod City, aiming to guide students on their financial journey.
Additionally, the bank intends to provide financial education to indigenous peoples (IPs) across several provinces, many of whom depend heavily on agriculture for their resources.
In response to the BPI initiative, Victorias City Mayor Abelardo Bantug III expressed his gratitude and believed that the program would help his constituents manage their finances more effectively, especially the younger generation.
This program is part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and is set to be launched in Manapla, Pontevedra, La Carlota, Himamaylan, and Bacolod next.*
