Major Maria Theresa Babiera of the Philippine Army is one of the many beneficiaries of the BDO Foundation’s aim of financial inclusion.

As BDO Unibank’s corporate social responsibility arm, the Foundation partners with several government agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

At the sidelines of the town hall event, Kita-Kita, organized by BDO Foundation and the BSP, Babiera shared how financial education had become integral to her family’s daily struggle.

While strolling through a mall with her seven-year-old daughter, Maj. Babiera asked if she wanted to buy something. Her daughter’s response astonished her: “Mom, is that a necessity or something unimportant? You don’t need to buy for me if it’s a luxury.”

This simple yet profound reply was a testament to the financial wisdom that Maj. Babiera had instilled in her child. “It made me realize how effectively I’ve shared the value of money to my daughter,” she said, crediting her knowledge to attending seminars and learning from financial literacy modules.

Financial discipline instilled

Since 2019, BDO Foundation has partnered with the AFP and BSP to provide financial education and training for uniformed and civilian personnel of the armed forces.

A memorandum of agreement was signed to enhance the AFP’s capacity to educate its personnel in financial management, including planning, saving, budgeting, investing, managing debt, and avoiding scams.

These efforts have made remarkable strides in changing financial mindsets among AFP personnel.

During the town hall, BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito highlighted the growing interest in investments across all sectors following training sessions and events.

“Participants are now eager to explore investment products and opportunities within the financial system,” he said. Beyond investments, topics such as debt management and scam avoidance remain crucial focus areas.

To date, the AFP has trained over 50,000 of its personnel in financial literacy and integrated the program into its plans and budget.

Navy Capt. Michael Barrion noted that they can rely more on soldiers who are focused, stress-free and financially literate. “Almost one out of two Filipino soldiers are now trained in financial literacy, and we’ve developed 76 trainers. We’ve also incorporated financial education into our career training programs.”

Duty now a way of life

Navy Capt. Michael Barrion emphasizes that financial literacy is now a daily practice for soldiers.

By including financial education in the personal scorecard of each soldier, the AFP ensures that financial literacy becomes second nature, not just a duty, but a way of life.