(L-R): Manolo Nava, BPI Foundation (BPIF) Senior Program Manager; Br. Bernard Oca FSC, De La Salle
University (DLSU) President; Carmina Marquez, BPIF Executive Director; and Dr. Jonathan Dungca, Vice President for DLSU Laguna Campus.
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has formalized a partnership with De La Salle University (DLSU). It acted through its social development arm, BPI Foundation (BPIF), and signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The goal is to advance financial education and empower communities in Laguna.
The Student Affairs Office–Laguna Campus of the School of Innovation and Sustainability will lead the partnership. The deal also opens doors for work with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation of the Province of Laguna. In addition, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)–Laguna will lend its support.
What the initiative includes
The initiative continues the rollout of BPIF’s FinEd Train the Trainers Program. This program gives educators, student leaders and community partners practical, relevant and easy-to-teach personal finance modules. By building educators’ skills, it keeps financial learning going within schools and nearby communities.
The MOA also opens the way for more joint projects and knowledge sharing. These efforts will benefit not only the province but the wider region as well.
“We are committed to building a financially literate Philippines by starting where it matters most, and that is with our educators,” said Carmina Marquez, BPIF Executive Director. “Our partnership with De La Salle University allows us to reach more communities in Laguna and empower them with the knowledge and skills needed to make sound financial decisions.”
A shared commitment to social responsibility
The Lasallian community is known for its long commitment to social responsibility, especially in underserved and marginalized areas. Through the partnership, the school will support its partner communities in Laguna. This work matches its mission of uplifting society through inclusive education.
“This partnership is a direct and powerful commitment to the UN SDGs,” said Br. Bernard Oca FSC, President of De La Salle University. “By sharing a comprehensive financial literacy program across the Province of Laguna, we are actively striving to achieve SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. We believe that financial empowerment is the foundation of stable and prosperous communities.”
Program Impact and Reach
The program will directly benefit over 1,000 students, 150 teachers and facilitators, 300 DLSU employees and 150 members of the SK of Laguna. Participants will join financial literacy workshops, bootcamps and hands-on activities. Through these, they will gain basic skills to manage personal finances and plan for the future. Some may even access seed funds for entrepreneurial projects.
Part of a Growing Network
De La Salle University is the first educational institution in Laguna, and the second in South Luzon, to join BPIF’s growing network of educational partners. It is also the ninth institution to join the network this year. This growth further affirms trust in the Foundation’s mission to promote inclusive and sustainable development through financial education.
For more information on BPIF’s FinEd programs, visit https://www.bpifoundation.org/.
Media Contact:
Nina Robles | 09173016630
nmcrobles@bpi.com.ph
About BPI
The 174-year-old Bank of the Philippine Islands is the first bank in the Philippines and the oldest in Southeast Asia. It is licensed as a universal bank by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to provide a diverse range of financial services: deposit taking and cash management, payments, lending and leasing, asset management, bancassurance, investment banking, securities brokerage, and foreign exchange and capital markets. BPI has significant financial strength, with robust Tier 1 capital adequacy ratios and profitability, underpinned by stringent compliance and risk management regimes.
Media: nmcrobles@bpi.com.ph | Investors: Investorrelations@bpi.com.ph
Bank of the Philippine Islands | Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2, Paseo de Roxas, corner Makati Ave., Makati City 1226 PH | www.bpi.com.ph
