AFP Honors BDO Foundation for Military Financial Education Program

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has conferred a special award on BDO Foundation in recognition of its long-running financial education program that has strengthened the financial literacy and wellness of more than 73,000 military and civilian personnel as of December 2025.

Former AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. presented the Golden Flame of Partnership Award to BDO Foundation, represented by its president Mario A. Deriquito, during the AFP Recognition of Stakeholders Ceremony held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. The occasion marked the first time the AFP has given this particular award.

“This is the first time that we are giving this kind of award,” Gen. Brawner said in his message. The ceremony also commemorated the 10th anniversary of the arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea and served as Gen. Brawner’s final flag-raising event as chief of staff.

The Golden Flame of Partnership Award recognizes the sustained collaboration among BDO Foundation, the AFP, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in advancing financial literacy and financial wellness across the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, and Philippine Navy. The partnership has integrated practical financial education into the regular training programs of the AFP, its service commands, and the Philippine Military Academy.

Launched in 2019, the program was designed to equip AFP personnel and their families with essential money-management skills. Partners jointly developed comprehensive financial education modules covering saving, budgeting, financial planning, investments, entrepreneurship, debt management, scam avoidance, and retirement planning. These topics address the unique financial challenges faced by military personnel, who often deal with irregular deployments, family separations, and the need for long-term financial security.

In addition to the modules, BDO Foundation, the AFP, and BSP co-developed and produced the AFP Financial Education Trainer’s Manual. The partners also conducted training-of-trainers sessions that empowered AFP instructors to deliver the lessons effectively within their units. Six educational videos tailored for a military audience were produced and made available on BDO’s official YouTube channel, providing accessible learning tools that personnel can review anytime.

By embedding financial education into standard military training, the initiative has moved beyond one-off seminars. It has become a structured component of professional development, helping personnel build habits that support both individual and family financial stability. Officials note that improved financial capability contributes to overall well-being, reduces stress related to money matters, and supports the AFP’s broader goal of building a stronger, more resilient force.

The program aligns with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, which seeks to expand access to financial knowledge and services across all sectors of Philippine society. It also supports the AFP Transformation Roadmap, which aims to modernize the armed forces not only in terms of equipment and capability but also in the readiness and welfare of its people.

For many service members, financial literacy is more than a personal skill it is a form of operational readiness. Personnel who understand budgeting, debt management, and long-term planning are better positioned to focus on their duties without the distraction of financial uncertainty. Families of deployed personnel also benefit when household finances are managed more effectively. The inclusion of topics such as avoiding scams and planning for retirement further equips personnel for both active service and life after the military.

BDO Foundation’s role as a private-sector partner has been central to the program’s reach and sustainability. By providing expertise, content development, and digital learning resources, the foundation has helped the AFP scale financial education across a large and geographically dispersed organization. The production of military-specific videos and the trainer’s manual ensured that materials remained relevant and practical for the intended audience.

As of the end of 2025, more than 73,000 personnel had benefited from the program an indication of its significant scale. The continued integration of financial education into regular training suggests that the impact will grow further in the years ahead.

The recognition comes at a time when financial wellness is increasingly viewed as a core component of personnel support in institutions worldwide. Military organizations face distinct challenges, including frequent transfers, dual-income household disruptions during deployments, and the need for disciplined long-term planning. Programs that address these realities in a structured way contribute not only to individual welfare but also to institutional stability.

Also Read: BDO Foundation Leads Financial Literacy Training for Iloilo Market Vendors

Looking forward, the partnership between BDO Foundation, the AFP, and the BSP stands as a model of multi-sector collaboration. It demonstrates how private foundations, government institutions, and the central bank can work together to deliver practical education that improves lives. The Golden Flame of Partnership Award affirms the value of that sustained commitment.

For the thousands of AFP personnel who have already completed the modules, the lessons on saving, budgeting, and planning represent tools they can use throughout their careers and into retirement. For the broader organization, the program reinforces the principle that a financially capable force is a stronger force. The recognition of BDO Foundation underscores the importance of continuing and expanding such efforts so that future generations of service members and their families can build greater financial security and resilience.