(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/.
