THE Financial Sector Forum (FSF) rolled out its 2025 “Protect Your Money” (PYM), aiming to equip consumers with the tools to safeguard their finances amid a surge in digital fraud and financial scams.
Unveiled at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) head office in Manila, the campaign carries the tagline “I am a smart financial consumer” and will harness a broad media mix — ranging from social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, to SMS alerts, radio, printed advisories in high-traffic locations and even messages on ATM machines.
The campaign, jointly spearheaded by the BSP, Insurance Commission, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. and Securities and Exchange Commission, will include practical tips on safe financial transactions, scam detection and recourse mechanisms for victims.
“This campaign is a direct response to the rapidly evolving digital financial landscape,” said BSP Deputy Gov. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, who chairs the FSF’s Consumer Protection and Education Committee. “By strengthening awareness of our rights and responsibilities as financial consumers, we empower individuals to guard themselves against scammers and fraudsters.”
Original PYM initiative
The FSF, chaired by BSP Gov. Eli Remolona, Jr., seeks to build on the success of the original PYM initiative launched in 2013. The 2025 iteration reflects a sharper focus on underserved populations, such as retirees and overseas Filipinos, as well as emerging threats like synthetic identity fraud and phishing attacks.
Speaking on behalf of Remolona, BSP Monetary Board member Jose Querubin emphasized the campaign’s mission to “enable Filipinos to confidently say: I am a smart financial consumer — a Filipino who knows the rights, risks and options that are available.”
BSP Deputy Gov. Chuchi Fonacier, who serves as alternate FSF chair, noted that the revitalized campaign is “sharper, more digital and more relevant than ever,” uniting regulators under a common mission to educate and protect.
The campaign draws legislative support from key measures, such as the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act and the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act — two pillars that now form the legal backbone for consumer protection in the digital economy. / KOC