The Central Bank of the Philippines held its Economic and Financial Learning Program (EFLP) in Cotabato City on 17–18 September 2025 to help farmers, fishers, and agri-entrepreneurs make more informed financial decisions as part of its financial education and inclusion efforts. Under the theme “Financial knowledge for agricultural progress and a resilient future,” the programme covered agribusiness development, financing and insurance, digital payments, and financial planning for emergency and long-term needs, and included a session on Islamic banking and financial services for Muslim communities. A related activity on 16 September focused on personal financial management for employees of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform, and participants were able to open accounts on 19 September to experience formal financial services. The central bank cited its 2021 Financial Inclusion Survey showing 73% of farmers and fishers remain outside the financial system, commonly due to limited access to banks, high transaction costs, lack of documentation, and low financial literacy; the Cotabato City session was the fourth EFLP conducted in 2025.
Central Bank of the Philippines 2025-10-02
Central Bank of the Philippines conducts Cotabato City Economic and Financial Learning Program for farmers, fishers and agri-entrepreneurs
The Central Bank of the Philippines held its Economic and Financial Learning Program in Cotabato City to boost financial literacy among farmers, fishers, and agri-entrepreneurs. The program, themed “Financial knowledge for agricultural progress and a resilient future,” covered agribusiness development, financing, digital payments, and Islamic banking. This initiative follows the 2021 Financial Inclusion Survey, which found 73% of farmers and fishers remain outside the financial system.