BDO Foundation’s financial education program, KITA (Kapital at Ipon Tungo sa Asenso) Mo Na!, has won the Financial Inclusion Initiative of the Year at the Asian Banking & Finance (ABF) Retail Banking Awards 2025. The program supports the Philippines’ agricultural sector by boosting the financial literacy, productivity, and income of farmers nationwide.
This initiative is the result of an ongoing partnership between BDO Foundation, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC). BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito said the award is an “inspiration for us to keep moving forward as we support national efforts toward financial inclusion.” He also recognized the partners who share the mission of empowering farming communities with the right knowledge for a more secure future.
A Fun Way to Learn
KITA Mo Na! stands out for its unique, gamified approach to financial education. A game master leads sessions where farmers face real-life scenarios that influence their daily financial decisions. This makes learning engaging and directly applicable.
By the end of 2024, the program had already reached 870 farmers and livestock raisers across the country. Participants learn essential personal finance topics such as:
- Saving and budgeting: Understanding how to manage and grow their money.
- Debt management: Making smart borrowing decisions.
- Basic financial products: Learning about accounts and services that can help them.
- Earning additional income: Finding new ways to increase their earnings.
- Scam prevention: Protecting themselves from financial fraud.
Building a Sustainable Program
To ensure the program’s success and longevity, BDO Foundation and its partners have implemented several key strategies.
One crucial component is the “training of trainers” program. This equips individuals from various communities with the skills to teach the KITA Mo Na! curriculum. As of the end of 2024, there were 49 certified trainers across all regions, each provided with a standardized guide and game kits.
Marikit Naguiat, BDO Foundation’s manager for financial inclusion, shared her hope that “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.”
The partners have also established a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the program’s impact, ensuring that KITA Mo Na! remains effective and continues to meet the needs of its beneficiaries. This commitment aligns with the BSP’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
What are your thoughts on using a gamified approach for financial education? Have you seen similar initiatives in other sectors?
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