The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), through its Financial Consumer Affairs Group, conducted financial education expos for professionals, employees and students of various agencies and universities, May 15-16, at the MMSU Teatro Ilocandia.

With the biggest delegation coming from MMSU, mini-sessions were conducted in learning booths and covered topics on the Philippine Financial System, consumer protection, personal finance, currency concerns, and financial products. The personal finance booth highlighted the benefits of saving early, financial planning for life cycle events, and power of compounding interest in basic investing concepts while the financial products booth gave an overview of the different financial instruments consumers may choose based on their risk appetite and objective. These learning booths also displayed information materials and interactive activities that enhanced the learning experience of the participants.

As can be gleaned in the theme, “Financial education: Building block for a stronger economy,” the BSP advocacy on financial education and consumer protection is principally anchored on the belief that BSP’s to promote financial stability and strengthen the financial system will have better chance of succeeding if they go hand in hand with efforts to protect and educate the public.

It was BSP’s second expo for this year following a successful event in Roxas City, Capiz last March. It has already been held in Cebu, Pampanga, Legazpi, Davao, Bacolod, Dagupan, and Genral Santos in 2010 and in Tuguegarao, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Naga, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Cabanatuan, and Tacloban in 2011.