KITA (Kapital at Ipon Tungo sa Asenso) Mo Na! — a financial education initiative by BDO Foundation — was named Financial Inclusion Initiative of the Year at the Asian Banking & Finance (ABF) Retail Banking Awards 2025 for its efforts to improve the financial literacy and earning capacity of farmers across the Philippines.

The program was developed in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) to support the agricultural sector by teaching farmers how to manage money, increase productivity, and grow their income.

“The recognition serves as an inspiration for us to keep moving forward as we support national efforts toward financial inclusion. We share this award to our partners that share the same mission of empowering farming communities with the right knowledge to pursue a more secure future,” said BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito.

Using a gamified approach, KITA Mo Na! simulates real-life scenarios that guide farmers through everyday financial decision-making. Sessions are led by a “game master,” and cover practical lessons in saving, budgeting, debt management, identifying financial products, earning extra income, and spotting scams.

By the end of 2024, the program had already reached 870 farmers and livestock raisers nationwide.

To ensure the sustainability of the initiative, BDO Foundation and its partners have rolled out a “training of trainers” model, equipping 49 trainers across the country to teach the program in their own communities. These trainers use standardized game kits and instructional guides to maintain the program’s integrity.

“We are hopeful that through the shared efforts of the foundation, our partners, and the trainers, more and more farmers are equipped with the right knowledge and tools to make sound financial decisions—that no one is left behind in rebuilding a financially literate citizenry,” said Marikit Naguiat, BDO Foundation’s manager for financial inclusion.

To further strengthen the program’s impact, the foundation, BSP, and ACPC have also established a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the outcomes of the initiative.

BDO Foundation said it remains committed to supporting programs that align with the BSP’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.