A nationwide push for financial inclusion took center stage at Novotel Manila, Quezon City, as Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI) spearheaded the National Financial Inclusion Summit 2025 (NFIS 2025). Co-presented by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), and the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), the summit gathered educators, policymakers, and industry leaders under the banner #LahatKasama: Strengthening Financial Inclusion through Education, emphasizing the critical role of schools in fostering financial literacy.
Financial education remains a key pillar in expanding financial access across the Philippines. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), nearly half of Filipino adults remain unbanked, and only 27%of youth aged 15 to 19 hold a formal financial account. CLFI highlighted the importance of starting inclusion early, integrating financial knowledge into classrooms to equip young Filipinos with the skills and confidence to manage money responsibly.
“Access opens the door, but education teaches people how to walk through it and build new ones for others. When teachers integrate budgeting, saving, and planning into everyday lessons, they are not only shaping smarter learners — they are cultivating financially resilient citizens,” according to Jean Henri D. Lhuillier, President and CEO of PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies.
The summit showcased how financial literacy extends beyond understanding money — it empowers individuals to make informed choices, plan for emergencies, and recover from setbacks. Through collaborations with DepEd, CHED, TESDA, and academic and corporate partners, CLFI aims to embed financial education across basic, higher, and technical-vocational learning systems.
Opening the summit, Dr. Manuel M. Muhi, President of PUP, delivered welcome remarks, followed by messages from Shem Jose W. Garcia, Chairperson of LCF, and Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV. The keynote address, “Educating for Inclusion: Turning Schools into Gateways of Financial Empowerment for Every Filipino,” was delivered by Assistant Secretary Janir T. Datukan, representing Secretary Angara.
Morning sessions featured Carmina F. Bayombong, Founder and CEO of InvestEd Philippines, discussing student financing as a means to remove barriers, and Michael F. Rellosa, Executive Director of PIRA, who highlighted inclusive and digital insurance. A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ria S. Fajilago of PUP explored strategies for embedding financial literacy as a national priority.
Afternoon keynotes from Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo, PASUC President, and Lhuillier focused on linking financial literacy to policy and community development. Presentations by Atty. Charina B. Vera-Yap of BSP and tech-driven learning strategies from Dr. Francisco S. A. Sandejas of Xepto Education Philippines and Dr. Laarni Evelyn A. Santiago of University of Makati highlighted innovative approaches for classroom integration.
The summit concluded with the launch of the #LahatKasama Financial Literacy Module, the most comprehensive FinLit resource in the country, offering interactive content on saving, investing, and disaster preparedness for teachers and students alike.
For Jonathan D. Batangan, Executive Director of CLFI, the Summit signifies more than a one-day gathering. It is the beginning of a nationwide collaboration. “Financial inclusion is not just access. More importantly, it is empowerment. Through our partnerships with DepEd, CHED, TESDA, and our academic and corporate partners, we are turning classrooms into launchpads of empowerment. Every lesson in financial education becomes a step toward a more resilient and inclusive Philippines.”
Aligned with the BSP’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (2022–2028) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, NFIS 2025 reinforces the movement to make financial literacy a national life skill, ensuring that no Filipino is left behind in building a resilient and inclusive society.