Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairperson Francis Lim strongly advocated for the mandatory integration of financial literacy into the basic education curriculum during the Senate Committee on Finance Hearing on the proposed fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget for the Department of Finance (DOF) and its attached agencies and corporations held on October 14, 2025.
Chairperson Lim highlighted the critical link between financial education and public protection, stating that a financially literate public is the first line of defense against the proliferation of scams and fraudulent investment schemes.
The Chairperson underscored that equipping students with fundamental knowledge of saving, investing, budgeting, and debt management will significantly reduce vulnerability to financial deception. This initiative, he noted, is a crucial step toward building a more robust and secure financial ecosystem for the nation.
“Protecting the investing public begins in the classroom,” Chairperson Lim stated. “By making financial literacy a core subject, we are not just teaching concepts; we are building a national safeguard that will empower future generations to make sound financial decisions and resist sophisticated fraud.”
The SEC expressed its full and active support for pending legislative measures in both the Senate and the House of Representatives that aim to mandate financial literacy as a standard component of the basic education curriculum. The Commission views this legislative action as a long-term investment that will yield substantial benefits in investor protection and economic stability.
In line with its continuous efforts to educate and protect investors, the SEC is finalizing a comprehensive calendar of events and activities for the upcoming World Investor Week (WIW) and Investor Protection Week (IPW) in 2025. These annual campaigns are designed to further enhance public awareness of investment fundamentals, rights, and risks. The public is encouraged to monitor the official SEC social media pages and website for timely updates and details on how to participate in these key educational initiatives.
