The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Region 2 (DEPDev2) successfully conducted the 2025 Economic and Financial Literacy (EFL) Forum on November 13, 2025 at the Pulsar Hotel Premier Suites, Buntun, Tuguegarao City.

The EFL Forum gathered a total of 110 students in the region to equip them with proper mindset on how to make sound financial decisions, mobilize savings, and contribute to realizing the country’s long-term vision of a 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑔, 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑎𝑤𝑎, 𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑔 𝑛𝑎 𝑏𝑢ℎ𝑎𝑦.

“We focused on you, students, because you have opportunities to learn and improve your financial skills and management early on. By gaining these skills now, you will be able to spend and manage your money wisely, or learn how to put it to work in the future when you enter the workforce,” said DEPDev Regional Director Dionisio C. Ledres, Jr. in his message. He stressed that the forum will guide the students in their adulthood journey and better prepare them to be successful in handling personal finances, investing surplus funds, and exploring opportunities to diversify income streams.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Bank Officer IV Maria Elena A. Madriaga discussed the topic on Personal Finance and Money Management, including the basics of budgeting, emergency funds, and financial scams and digital safety.

AVP Michael dela Cruz of Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) Tuguegarao Branch also shared various banking and financial tools and services offered by the LBP and some investing tips for beginners. Other topics covered include Digital Payments by Mr. Reynold V. Zamora of GCash and Government Program and Facilities by Ms. Melegrina P. Turingan of the Department of Trade and Industry.

To imprint a valuable life lesson among the students, former Regional Directors of NEDA (now DEPDev), namely, Director Severino C. Santos and Director Remigio A. Mercado, shared their life after retirement, and imparted tips on managing money and time with a long-term vision in mind. Ms. Camille Rose M. Tacazon, owner of Papelulit, a hand-made recycled paper business, narrated her journey in putting up the enterprise. Mr. Vergel C. Baccay and Mr. James B. Rodrigo of DEPDev2 inspired the participants with their stories on surviving financial difficulties during their academic years.

The EFL Forum is DEPDev2’s major activity during the 2025 Economic and Financial Literacy Week Celebration, observed every second week of November of every year. This year, the adopted theme was “𝑃𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑜 ‘𝑆𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑠𝑒𝑠’? ‘𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝-𝑏𝑦-𝑡ℎ𝑒-𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝’ 𝑛𝑎 𝑘𝑎𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑎 𝑒𝑘𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑦𝑎 𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑦𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎 𝑠𝑎 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑎 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑦𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑜 𝑠𝑎 𝐴𝑚𝐵𝑖𝑠𝑦𝑜𝑛.” DEPDev-DRCAD