YOUNG Filipinos may soon graduate high school better equipped to handle money and start businesses if a measure filed by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go becomes law.
The proposal seeks to make financial literacy and entrepreneurship separate core subjects in junior and senior high school, aiming to curb poverty, spur job creation, and prepare the next generation for real-world challenges.
Go said the move responds to long-standing gaps in the education system. “If students learn early how to manage money and run a business, they will be more prepared to face life’s challenges,” he noted, adding that this is an investment in the nation’s future workforce.
Filed as Senate Bill 672, the measure amends the Youth Entrepreneurship Act (RA 10679) to broaden its coverage and strengthen integration in the K-12 curriculum. It mandates the Department of Education to develop and implement separate subjects on finance and entrepreneurship for all public and private secondary schools. Elementary pupils would receive values-based programs that lay the groundwork for entrepreneurial thinking.
The proposal also tasks the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to promote similar programs in universities and technical-vocational institutions. It expands the role of the Entrepreneurship Education Committee to include national program planning, standard-setting, foreign best practice adoption, and the creation of enterprise incubation labs and agriculture-based entrepreneurship projects in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Land Bank of the Philippines.
Go cited findings from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor showing that nearly half of Filipinos in 2015 viewed entrepreneurial opportunities positively—proof, he said, that the mindset exists and must be cultivated early. He also pointed to a recent Pulse Asia survey showing that securing stable income is the second most urgent concern of Filipino adults, underlining the need for stronger livelihood education.
The senator has previously backed several education reforms, including laws on alternative learning, free college entrance exams and student loan relief during disasters. He stressed that the proposed subjects should be shaped through multi-sector consultations with educators, industry leaders, and the public to ensure relevance.
“This is about giving our youth the skills and confidence to succeed in a competitive economy,” Go said. “Education remains the key to building a brighter future for them and for the country.” / KOC