A Senate bill seeks to make financial literacy and entrepreneurship mandatory core subjects in junior and senior high school to equip young Filipinos with skills to address unemployment, reduce poverty, and promote economic growth.
Filed by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Senate Bill No. 672 proposes amendments to Republic Act No. 10679, or the Youth Entrepreneurship Act, to broaden its coverage and deepen its integration into the K-12 curriculum of both public and private secondary schools nationwide.
The bill also mandates complementary values formation programs in elementary education and the promotion of similar initiatives in higher education and technical-vocational institutions.
Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Youth, said strengthening students’ economic knowledge at an early age would help them navigate life’s challenges.
“Kung matututo na ang kabataan natin sa tamang paghawak ng pera at sa pagnenegosyo habang nasa eskwela pa lang, mas magiging handa silang harapin ang hamon ng buhay,” he said.
Under the proposed measure, the Department of Education would integrate separate core subjects on financial literacy and entrepreneurship into junior and senior high school curricula, while elementary programs would focus on instilling values essential for future entrepreneurs.
The measure also directs the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to develop and promote financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs in their respective sectors.
To enhance implementation, the Entrepreneurship Education Committee’s functions would be expanded to include drafting a national plan of action, standardizing programs, adopting relevant foreign practices, and providing training and mentoring.
In addition, initiatives would cover the development of enterprise incubation laboratories, creative spaces, and agriculture-related entrepreneurship programs in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and the Land Bank of the Philippines.
The bill further calls for multi-sectoral consultations with educators, business leaders, and other stakeholders to determine the most relevant and effective content for the new subjects.
Citing data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, the proponent of the bill noted that 46 percent of Filipinos in 2015 had a positive view of entrepreneurial opportunities, reflecting the potential for cultivating such a mindset among the youth.
He also referenced a June 2025 Pulse Asia survey showing that reliable income ranked among Filipinos’ top personal concerns, alongside health and job creation.
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