At a time when many educators feel weighed down by the challenges of the Philippine education system, a new partnership offers renewed hope and purpose. On August 15, 2025, the Department of Education (DepEd), Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), and Security Bank Corporation (SECB) formalized a collaboration to facilitate more seamless implementation of SBFI’s three-year training program for teachers and school principals called the Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building.

Under the agreement, DepEd grants nationwide recognition to the program, enabling strong support from its Regional and Division Offices. This includes endorsing qualified applicants, ensuring participants earn learning and development credits, monitoring the implementation of their committed action plans, and providing data on personnel development and student academic performance to aid in evaluating the program’s impact.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who signed the agreement, praised Security Bank’s enduring support for public education: “Looking at the figures, Security Bank is truly one of our most steadfast allies from the private sector. Their support has never been a fleeting gesture, but a lasting commitment—one that continues to create evidence of change not just for years, but for decades, transforming communities, schools, families, and individual lives.”

Also signing the agreement were SBFI Chairman Rafael Simpao, Jr. and SECB Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Eduardo Olbes.  The ceremony, held at Ateneo de Manila University, was witnessed by training partners and the third batch of school principals under the three-year program.

SBFI will fund and implement training programs with academic partners, while DepEd will endorse participants and ensure implementation of the  participants’ committed action plans. The program equips principals with leadership and problem-solving skills, and teachers with training in English, Math, and Science 21st century instruction, student assessment, and community engagement.

Developed with Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Philippines, and other institutions, the program complements SBFI’s Build a School, Build a Nation classroom donation initiative. “Physical structures alone cannot improve education,” Simpao said. “True transformation lies in the hands of principals and teachers,” he added.

To broaden global perspectives, the program also offers an International Certificate in Educational Studies in Leadership in partnership with The HEAD Foundation (Singapore) and the University of Bristol (UK).

Now in its third year, the three-year program has 167 participating educators, mainly from SBFI’s classroom beneficiary schools, each preparing to serve as a mentor, leader, and nation-builder.

Learn more about Security Bank Foundation’s commitment to education at www.securitybank.com/foundation.

#BetterBankingIsSustainable #MentoringFutureLeadersForNationBuilding #PrincipalsTraining #TeachersTraining