NEWS RELEASE || 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐏𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟒 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐀 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

MAKATI CITY, October 09, 2025—𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗖. 𝗔𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗺𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, 𝗜𝗻𝗰. (𝗝𝗔 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀) 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮-𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Held on October 6–7, 2025, the two-day meeting served as a platform to strengthen collaboration between the Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga and JA Philippines. Discussions centered on ensuring the effective rollout of the Cha-Ching Program by aligning the curriculum, integrating financial literacy concepts into the academic schedule, and optimizing the use of teaching and learning resources. Both parties also explored strategies to institutionalize coordination mechanisms that will sustain the program’s long-term implementation across the region.

Representing DepEd Caraga were Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD) Chief Bernabe L. Linog, Education Support Services Division (ESSD) Chief Edmund D. Mendoza, Human Resource Development Division (HRDD) Education Program Specialist II Glaiza Jamen A. Lloren, and Technical Assistant I for External Partnerships Jairha Anne T. Sususco.

Meanwhile, JA Philippines was represented by Paula Patrice Dela Cruz, Director for Operations; Tovi Luna and Jillian Chan, Program Leads; Marvin Pagsisihan, Program Support; and Geckah Dumling, Consultant. The JA team presented the organization’s key initiatives and shared best practices drawn from successful program implementations nationwide, highlighting the impact of early financial education on children’s lifelong decision-making skills.

The Cha-Ching Program, developed by Prudential in partnership with JA Worldwide, is an award-winning and child-friendly financial literacy initiative that introduces learners to the four essential money management concepts—Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate. Through vibrant three-minute music videos and experiential classroom activities, the program transforms financial education into a fun, interactive, and meaningful learning experience.

DepEd Caraga is set to be the first region in Mindanao to pilot the program, with 2–3 Schools Division Offices expected to implement it among approximately 15,000 Grade 4 learners. The pilot rollout will feature six sessions, each lasting 30–45 minutes, with comprehensive learning materials and instructional support provided by JA Philippines.

The partnership meeting marks a milestone in DepEd Caraga’s ongoing commitment to equip young Caraganon learners with essential life skills. By introducing financial literacy at an early age, the region takes a proactive step toward nurturing a generation that is not only academically competent but also financially responsible and empowered to make informed choices for a better future.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

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