Philippines E-PESO Short-Term Consultant Report

The manual was designed to promote financial independence and sustainability among program participants. The initiative was led by the E-PESO Financial Inclusion Consultant, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Commission on Audit (COA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and other key stakeholders. The development of the FinLit Manual involved a series of workshops and training sessions, including pre-testing of Module 1, which was conducted via Zoom in May 2020. The pre-testing aimed to ensure that the module objectives were met and that the training materials were effective in promoting financial literacy among beneficiaries. The training proper was led by Ms. Gay Santos, a consultant and resource person for the sessions, who introduced the ADIDS framework (Activity, Discussion, Input, Deepening, and Synthesis) as a guide for delivering the program. The FinLit Manual was designed to be progressive, starting with Module 1, which focuses on understanding financial well-being and sustainability. The manual includes a module matrix that outlines the progression of the program, with subsequent modules covering consumer protection, exploring opportunities, and specialized modules on entrepreneurship, microinsurance, and microcredit. The manual also provides tips and notes for trainors, including guidelines for preparing materials, taking notes, and observing social distancing and safety protocols during face-to-face sessions. The development of the FinLit Manual was a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders, including the E-PESO Financial Inclusion Consultant, DSWD officials, and other key partners. The manual was reviewed and approved by DSWD Director Gemma Gabuya in December 2020, and it was finalized for printing in February 2021. The initiative aimed to promote financial literacy and independence among 4Ps beneficiaries, aligning with the program's goal of making each beneficiary financially independent within a seven-year tenure. The implementation of the FinLit Manual involved a series of training sessions and workshops, including pre-testing of Module 1, which was conducted via Zoom in May 2020. The training proper was led by Ms. Gay Santos, who introduced the ADIDS framework as a guide for delivering the program. The manual was designed to be progressive, starting with Module 1, which focuses on understanding financial well-being and sustainability.