BPI Foundation bags two awards for sustainability, corporate purpose

BPI Foundation (BPIF), the social development arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), received recognitions for the work it has done in enabling community and enterprise development through its various financial education and livelihood programs.

BPIF’s programs were conferred different awards from the prestigious Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards 2024, an international award-giving body that recognizes successful marketing campaigns, and sustainability and corporate purpose initiatives that positively impact the world.

It also received recognition from the Nordic-Philippines Business Awards 2024 for community impact—for having shown “exceptional commitment to social responsibility and community engagement.” The Nordic-Philippines Business Awards is an acclaimed award-giving body that celebrates the achievements of outstanding individuals and companies fostering connections between regions.

“Receiving these significant awards for our programs at BPI Foundation reaffirms that our commitment to community and enterprise development is creating a meaningful impact, drawing recognition from both local and international award-giving bodies,” said Carmina Marquez, BPIF Executive Director.

“We thank the Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards and the Nordic-Philippines Business Awards for such recognition. This is a huge motivator for us to keep going and continue helping to build a better Philippines—one family, one community at a time,” Marquez added.

Corporate Purpose

Various programs of BPIF received citations in the Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards’ Leaders for Corporate Purpose cluster, which recognizes “non-marketing initiatives of organizations and businesses that thrive by leading the sustainable and resilient transformation of their workplace, culture, communities, and countries.”

Its FinEd Unboxed program was awarded under the Continuing Education category for “providing equal opportunities for quality education for all.” FinEd Unboxed is a program that provides financial education to farmers and fisherfolk; nano, micro, and small social enterprises; teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education; uniformed personnel; and migrant domestic workers and their families. In 2023, the program directly empowered over a million individuals.

Meanwhile, BPIF’s Enterprise Development and Livelihood Programs were cited in the Inclusive Growth category, receiving a Bronze Award for “providing the means and opportunities for the marginalized sectors in society to be part of a company’s success.” Recognized were the Small Enterprise Acceleration Lab-Business Expansion thru Training Application (SEAL-BETA), BPI Sinag, Farm-to-Table, and TechVoc. In 2023, these programs reached more than a quarter of a million diverse beneficiaries, propelling their growth and contributing to their financial sustainability.

The BPI SEAL-BETA was again acknowledged as a finalist in the Public-Private Partnership category, for “implementing cooperative ventures or contractual agreements between public agencies and private partners to address a public or social need.” SEAL-BETA is a training program implemented through BPI Direct BanKo in collaboration with the DTI-Philippine Trade Training Center and the DTI-Regional Offices, demonstrating a real example of a public-private partnership working to achieve a shared goal. The program targets micro-enterprises impacted by the pandemic.

Community Impact

BPI Foundation was honored with the Community Impact Award at the Nordic-Philippines Business Awards 2024 for its positive community impact and innovation for social good.

BPIF was recognized for the social responsibility demonstrated by its programs that focus on financial education, enterprise development, and financial inclusion, which are all geared toward the financial well-being of its target recipients.

The award also recognized BPIF’s innovation for social good, highlighting its efforts during the 45^th anniversary in 2023, including the BPI Financial Wellness Fair, which boosted market access and growth for local businesses. The achievement of Level One Certification from Social Value International further attests to its commitment to the Social Return on Investment (SROI) approach.

Since 1978, BPIF has remained committed to empowering underserved Filipino communities. The strategic initiatives and sustainable programs it has implemented throughout the years are a testament to its unwavering dedication to community development and to uplifting the lives of the Filipino families and individuals.