The Bank of the Philippine Islands, through its social development arm BPI Foundation, has formalized a partnership with Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna to expand financial literacy programs for underserved communities.

The partnership was sealed through a memorandum of agreement for the FinEd Unboxed Program, which aims to equip various sectors — including farmers, fisherfolk, low-income families, migrant domestic workers, young learners, teachers, uniformed personnel, and other financially excluded groups — with practical financial skills.

The program covers core topics such as saving, budgeting, credit management, investing, insurance, retirement planning, and fraud prevention, as part of efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable development.

Under the agreement, BPI Foundation and Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna will implement a “Train the Trainers” initiative, training students and volunteer faculty members to become financial education resource speakers. Once trained, members of the Mapúa community will conduct financial wellness sessions in partner communities, allowing financial literacy knowledge to be passed on in a sustained manner.

“For BPI Foundation, financial education is a critical enabler of inclusive growth,” said Carmina Marquez, executive director of BPIF.

“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,” she added.

The program includes training sessions for students and faculty, the use of FinEd Unboxed materials and toolkits for community workshops, and ongoing mentorship and monitoring to ensure effective delivery.

In the next two years, the initiative is expected to benefit more than 10,000 individuals from MMCL’s adopted communities in Laguna, Cavite and Pampanga.

The collaboration builds on a similar implementation at Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao in Davao City last year, which has so far reached more than 2,000 beneficiaries.

“The FinEd Unboxed Program aligns strongly with Mapúa’s mission to serve communities beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, president of Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna.

“Through this partnership with BPI Foundation, we are able to mobilize our academic resources, faculty, and students to help address real-world challenges, particularly in communities with limited access to education and financial literacy,” he added.

Under the partnership, financial education support will be extended to adopted communities across Laguna, Pampanga, Cavite and Tagaytay. Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna is the first educational institution to partner with BPI Foundation in 2026.

The collaboration also supports three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Partnerships for the Goals.