(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), through its social development arm, BPI
Foundation (BPIF), has formalized its partnership with De La Salle University (DLSU)
through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) aimed at advancing financial education
and empowering communities in Laguna.
The Student Affairs Office–Laguna Campus of the School of Innovation and
Sustainability will serve as the focal team for this partnership, which also opens
opportunities for collaboration with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation of the
Province of Laguna, with support from the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG)–Laguna.
The initiative includes the continuing rollout of BPIF’s FinEd Train the Trainers Program,
which equips educators, student leaders, and community partners with practical,
relevant, and easy-to-teach modules on personal finance. By strengthening educators
capability, the program ensures sustainable financial learning within schools and their
surrounding communities. The MOA also opens avenues for additional joint projects
and knowledge-sharing efforts that will benefit not only the province but the 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.”
The Lasallian community has long been known for its commitment to social
responsibility, particularly in underserved and marginalized areas. Through the
partnership, the school will extend support to its partner communities in Laguna,
aligning with 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”.
The program will directly benefit over 1,000 students, 150 teachers and facilitators, 300
DLSU employees, and 150 members of the SK of Laguna. Participating students and
community members will engage in financial literacy workshops, bootcamps, and
practical activities, providing them with foundational skills to manage personal finances,
plan for the future, and even access seed funds for entrepreneurial projects.
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, marking the ninth
educational institution to join the Foundation’s network this year and further affirming
trust in its 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. We are 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. E-mail: Media: nmcrobles@bpi.com.ph Investors:
Investorrelations@bpi.com.ph. Bank of the Philippine Islands l Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2, Paseo de Roxas, corner Makati
Ave., Makati City 1226 PH l www.bpi.com.ph
