The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) has conducted a roadshow on responsible banking for Dumaguete depositors last week.{{more}}
The advocacy roadshow, called the Be a Wise Saver Campaign, was held at Silliman University last December 9. It was participated in by some 800 banking majors and other college students and their teachers from nine tertiary schools, according to a press release from the PDIC.
The campaign sought to educate the public on basic banking know-how that help make for more informed financial decisions such as in the choice of bank, and the choice of appropriate banking products.
The Be a Wise Saver Campaign promotes the 7 Habits of a Wise Saver which aims to protect savers from fraudulent schemes. The Seven Habits are: Know your bank; Know your bank products; Know your bank’s services and fees; Keep your bank records safe and updated; Transact only inside the bank with authorized bank personnel; Be informed about PDIC deposit insurance; and Be cautious.
PDIC Vice President for Corporate Affairs Maria Leonida Fres-Felix led the activity for PDIC in Dumaguete City, the second city in the Visayas, and the fourth province visited by the advocacy campaign since December 2009.
She said that the Wise Saver road shows are aimed at equipping the public with the right information, which effectively adds another layer of protection for depositors.
The activity was co-hosted by the Silliman University’s College of Business Administration at the Luce Auditorium, and joined by other schools in Dumaguete City namely the Negros Oriental State University, Foundation University, St. Paul University, Metro Dumaguete College, AMA Computer College and the Asian College of Science and Technology, Colegio de Sta. Catalina de Alejandria and Maxino College.
PDIC President Jose C. Nograles led the efforts in June 2009 to bring together the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the local banking industry represented by the Bankers Association of the Philippines, the Chamber of Thrift Banks, the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines, the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines, including the Department of Trade and Industry to promote wise and responsible banking among the general public.
PDIC’s partners who participated in the Dumaguete roadshow as speakers are Ms. Ma. Belinda Caraan, BSP Acting Deputy Director and Head of the Financial Consumer Affairs Group; Mr. Wilfredo Talastas of the Bankers Association of the Philippines; Mr. Terluliano Pacana of the Chamber of Thrift Banks; and Mr. Vittorio Almario, Vice President for Mindanao of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines.
It is not the first time for PDIC to undertake a financial literacy advocacy. The PDIC launched its Financial Literacy Program (FLP) five years ago — the first ever school-curriculum based financial literacy program in the country and the first such project initiated by a deposit insurer in the Asian region. It is a nationwide advocacy that educates the young people on the value of saving, the impact of savings mobilization to economic growth, and PDIC’s role in helping maintain stability in the banking system by incorporating these insights into the school curriculum.
This project is in partnership with the Department of Education and the Commission of Higher Education. Around seven million students benefit from this project every year. (PR)