The collaboration was sealed through the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA), underscoring both institutions’ shared commitment to inclusive and sustainable development by expanding access to quality, practical financial education.
Access to financial education
FinEd Unboxed is designed to elevate the financial literacy of diverse sectors, including farmers, fisherfolk, low-income families, migrant domestic workers, young learners, teachers, uniformed personnel, and other financially excluded groups.
The program focuses on practical skills such as saving, budgeting, credit management, investing, insurance, retirement planning, and fraud prevention.
By equipping communities with these essential skills, the partnership seeks to empower individuals to make informed financial decisions, build resilience, and improve long-term economic security.
Train-the-trainers approach
A key component of the partnership is the implementation of a “Train the Trainers” initiative, which will prepare MMCL students and volunteer faculty members to serve as financial education resource speakers.
Once trained by BPIF, members of the Mapúa community will conduct financial wellness sessions for partner communities, allowing financial literacy knowledge to be cascaded widely and sustainably.
Key activities under the program include training sessions for students and faculty on core financial concepts, the use of FinEd Unboxed materials and toolkits to support community-based workshops, and the organization of financial wellness sessions led by trained participants.
Ongoing mentorship and monitoring will also be implemented to ensure effective delivery and meaningful engagement.
Supporting inclusive growth
“For BPI Foundation, financial education is a critical enabler of inclusive growth,” Carmina Marquez, executive director of BPIF, said in a press statement.
“As we celebrate BPI’s 175th anniversary this year, we are committed to scaling access to practical and relevant financial education. By partnering with institutions like Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna, we bring these opportunities closer to communities, empowering individuals to make informed decisions and build a more secure future for themselves and their families,” Marquez stressed.
Over the next two years, the program is projected to benefit more than 10,000 individuals from MMCL’s adopted communities in Laguna, Cavite, and Pampanga.
The collaboration builds on the success of a similar implementation at Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (MMCM) in Davao City, which has reached over 2,000 beneficiaries to date and continues to expand access to quality education in Davao City and nearby areas. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
