BSP, DICT partner to boost digital financial education

MANILA — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) honored key advocates of financial education and sealed a digitalization partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) during the Financial Education (Fin-Ed) Stakeholders’ Congress held from Nov. 17 to 18, 2025, at the BSP Head Office in Manila.

BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat led the conferment of the Financial Education Awards, recognizing government agencies, financial institutions, and private organizations for their innovation and dedication to advancing financial literacy and inclusion across the country.

The “Exemplary Financial Education Partners” award was conferred on the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and BDO Foundation.

Recipients of the “Innovative Financial Education Partners” award included the DA–Agricultural Credit Policy Council, Department of Education, Asian Development Bank, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Insurance Commission.

The “Emerging Financial Education Partners” award was given to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Migrant Workers, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Civil Service Commission, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and BPI Foundation.

For “Promising Financial Education Partners,” honorees included the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines, Credit Card Association of the Philippines, Visa Foundation, Maybank Foundation, Department of Labor and Employment, International Labour Organization, and 10 local government units including Odiongan, Romblon; Alcala, Pangasinan; and Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Also recognized were the Department of Trade and Industry, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Economy, Planning and Development, TransUnion Philippines, and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

In a major push for digital financial literacy, Romulo-Puyat and DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda signed a memorandum of agreement enabling DICT to provide digital infrastructure support to two BSP flagship programs: Paleng-QR Ph Plus and the BSP E-Learning Academy (BELA).

Paleng-QR Ph Plus encourages digital payments in public markets, local transportation, and small businesses through QR Ph, the national standard for QR code transactions.

BELA offers an interactive online platform featuring accessible financial and economic education content for the public.

Held under the theme “The Journey to Financial Success: Financial Learning that Connects, Transforms, and Sustains,” the event drew over 3,500 participants from the public and private sectors, including micro, small, and medium enterprises, both on-site and online.

“The congress aims to empower citizens,” said Romulo-Puyat, noting a drop in household loan defaults in tandem with the expansion of financial education and its role in driving economic growth.

New initiatives launched at the congress include the Credit Card Association of the Philippines’ “Credit Card Essentials E-Learning Module,” the BSP’s enhanced “Protect Your Money” campaign, and new Fin-Ed collaborations with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, and TransUnion.

The two-day event also featured learning sessions designed to encourage Filipinos to adopt digital platforms, cultivate sustainable financial habits, and boost financial confidence in an increasingly digital economy.

Notable speakers included business consultant Francis Kong; personal finance expert Fitz Villafuerte; economist Benjamin Radoc Jr.; financial strategist Jax Reyes; and BSP officials Alain Bert Regis and V Anatoly Gusto.

They were joined by SEC advocacy officer Angela Okol; TESDA Chief Specialist Jacqueline Ali; FinTech Alliance chair Lito Villanueva; PLIA Education Committee head Elaine Katindoy; TransUnion Philippines Head of Sales Kat Tapia; CLAP President Arianne Ferrer; BFAR beneficiary Jonibel Cabagbag; and celebrity guests Alden Richards, Isabelle Daza, and Iza Calzado.

The congress forms part of the BSP’s observance of Economic and Financial Literacy Week every November, as mandated by Republic Act No. 10922, which promotes building a financially literate and empowered citizenry as a pillar of national development.