Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 4258 
Introduced by Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian 
K. Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE INCLUSION OF A PERSONAL FINANCIAL 
LITERACY 
COURSE 
IN 
THE 
TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL 
EDUCATION AND TRAINING CURRICULUM OF TECHNICAL-
VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND 
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TRAINING CENTERS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 2016, Republic Act No. 10922, otherwise known as the "Economic and 
Financial Literacy Act," was enacted to mandate the State to develop national 
consciousness on economic and financial literacy and declare the second week of 
November of every year as "Economic and Financial Literacy Week." In 
acknowledging that the nation's growth can be advanced by a financially literate 
citizenry capable of making prudent financial choices, the law mandates 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), among other 
government agencies, to conduct consciousness-raising and knowledge-
expanding activities on economic and financial literacy including the setting up 
of literature corners, organizing fora, trainings, and conducting basic economic 
and financial management classes. In furtherance of this, this proposed bill seeks 
to mandate the inclusion of a personal financial literacy course in the technical-
vocational (tech-voc) education and training curriculum of technical-vocational 
institutions and TESDA training centers. 
The 2021 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Financial Inclusion Survey 
(FIS) shows that only 2% of adults correctly answered all six basic financial 
September 1, 2025
3:49 pm


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literacy questions.1 Further, a study by the World Bank in 2022 found that only 
25% of adult Filipinos are knowledgeable about basic financial concepts.2 
These gaps matter even more for tech-voc learners, who often transition to 
paid work earlier than their peers in higher education. While the Department of 
Education has adopted a Financial Education Policy3 integrating finance topics 
across K–12, there is no statutory requirement to deliver a dedicated, standards-
based personal financial literacy course in the TVET curriculum. Existing efforts, 
such as TESDA's online financial literacy modules4 developed with BSP and 
Banco de Oro Foundation, are valuable but non-mandatory and non-systemic, 
reaching only those who opt in. 
To address this, proposed measure will (i) require technical-vocational 
institutions and TESDA training centers to integrate financial education alongside 
practical technical-vocational skills; (ii) equip students with essential knowledge 
on managing personal finances, wealth planning, and making sound financial 
decisions as they enter the workforce; (iii) expand access to personal financial 
literacy courses to help Filipinos avoid fraud, practice financial discipline, use 
credit responsibly, and build savings for education or retirement. 
Principally authored by Bukidnon, 1st District Representative Jose Manuel 
F. Alba, this measure was approved by the House on Third Reading during the
19th Congress.
In view of the foregoing reasons, the immediate passage of this bill is 
sought. 
YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ 
1
https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Media_And_Research/Financial%20Inclusion%20Dashboard/2021/FIDashboard_4Q20
21.pdf
2
https://www.bsp.gov.ph/SitePages/MediaAndResearch/SpeechesDisp.aspx?ItemId=993#:~:text=The%20World
%20Bank%20found%20that,countries%20surveyed%20on%20financial%20literacy. 
3 https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DO_s2021_022.pdf 
4 https://www.tesda.gov.ph/Media/NewsDetail/20376 


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ANDREW JULIAN K. ROMUALDEZ 
 
 
JUDE A. ACIDRE 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 4258 
Introduced by Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian 
K. Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE INCLUSION OF A PERSONAL FINANCIAL 
LITERACY 
COURSE 
IN 
THE 
TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL 
EDUCATION AND TRAINING CURRICULUM OF TECHNICAL-
VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND 
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TRAINING CENTERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress  assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. –  This Act shall be known as the "Personal 
Financial Literacy Course in the Technical-Vocational Education and Training 
(TVET) Curriculum Act."  
Section 2.  Declaration of Policy. – Recognizing financial literacy as an 
essential life skill, as well as the complementary role of financial education in 
promoting the economic well-being of Filipinos, it is hereby declared a policy of 
the State to establish a strong foundation of financial literacy of students, trainees, 
and employees in order to create a more skilled, knowledgeable, and well-
informed future generation of Filipinos. 


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To this end, the State also seeks to broaden and strengthen TVET 
programs, including financial education and literacy, to enable technical-
vocational (tech-voc) students to develop the appropriate skills to make well-
informed financial decisions, and desirable work habits upon employment in the 
industries. 
 
Section 3.  Objectives. – This Act shall have the following objectives: 
 
a) To ensure that technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) and Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training centers 
shall provide the necessary financial education to tech-voc students while 
at the same time helping them learn and develop other  practical tech-voc 
skills and competencies; 
 
b) To equip the students with basic knowledge and additional skills on wealth 
management and contingency planning, especially in properly handling 
their personal finances, prepare them to make well-informed financial 
decisions upon entering the workforce, and help them master financial 
literacy as an important life skill in their day-to-day transactions and other 
activities;  
 
c) To broaden the opportunities and venues for the teaching of a personal 
financial literacy course to strengthen financial education among Filipinos 
so they can avoid financial frauds, develop financial discipline, use debt 
responsively and save for education or retirement so they can avoid 
financial frauds, use debt responsibly, and save for education or retirement.  
 


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Section 4.  Mandatory Inclusion of Personal Financial Literacy Course 
in the TVET Curriculum. – All public and private TVIs and TESDA training 
centers are mandated to offer a Personal Financial Literacy Course (PFLC) to 
tech-voc students as part of the TVET curriculum. It shall focus solely on personal 
finance based on the policies, guidelines, and standards set jointly by the TESDA, 
the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Finance (DOF), Securities 
and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Insurance Commission (IC). 
 
 
A passing grade in the PFLC shall be required for graduation or completion 
of the course. 
 
Section 5. Contents of Personal Financial Literacy Course. – The PFLC 
shall provide instructions on personal financial literacy and shall include the 
following contents: 
 
(a) Concept of personal finance; 
 
(b) Time value of money; 
 
(c) Consumer behavior in the context and culture of the Philippines; 
 
(d) Debt management and rehabilitation; 
 
(e) Savings, emergency, and resilience fund development; 
 
(f) Investment concepts and planning; 
 
(g) Retirement planning; 


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(h) Insurance planning; 
 
(i) Credit scoring and credit reports; 
 
(j) Concept of financial education;  
 
(k) Pertinent topics on effective utilization of digital payment platforms, such 
as modules on observing cyber-hygiene to help safeguard cybersecurity, 
data integrity, and consumer protection in adopting digital financial 
services; and 
 
(l) Other financial literacy issues and concerns. 
  
Section 6. Roles of Government Agencies, Offices, and Instrumentalities. 
– The TESDA shall collaborate with the BSP, DOF, SEC, and the IC in 
developing academic standards, curricula, and materials for the PFLC. These 
agencies shall issue jointly the proper guidelines for this purpose. 
 
The content of the PFLC shall be aligned with the standards set by the 
aforementioned agencies.  
 
 
Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) 
days after the effectivity of this Act, the TESDA shall, in consultation with the 
BSP, DOF, and other relevant stakeholders, issue rules and regulations for the 
effective implementation of this Act. 
 


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Section 8. Separability Clause. – In the event any of the provisions of this 
Act is declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be 
affected by such declaration.  
 
Section 9. Repealing Clause. – All other laws,  decrees,  orders,  rules and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this  Act are repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
Section 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
  
Approved,