Enchong Dee pushes for financial literacy, health among teachers, communities

Actor Enchong Dee, who struggled as a poor but deserving student-athlete in his younger years, hopes to help Filipinos currently struggling with their finances and health./CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Actor Enchong Dee takes on a new role this time of a health pandemic as an ally in pushing for financial literacy among public school teachers, and to promote health in depressed communities.

“I feel honored to be an ally to bring a brighter world to Filipinos,” Dee said in a digital press conference hosted by the Filipino arm of a global insurance company.

The Kapamilya actor was tapped anew by a financial insurance plan to spread the word about the group’s latest initiative dubbed “Rise Brighter Philippines.” The program has two components, which both aim to promote financial literacy among public school teachers to address their financial insecurity and indebtedness, and provide sustainable health care to the poorer sectors of society.

“Being an ally is a step forward, I hope all of you support these initiatives. Let’s make it happen,” Dee appealed.

The actor also took the opportunity to look back on his own charity project, which received support from the said foundation.

“I launched my own ‘Handog Palangoy’ before to provide swimming lessons to poor children. During the initial stages, the program relied only on what my car can do, such as how far it can reach, how many coaches I can tag along, and how much food I can bring,” Dee shared.

But when the foundation and other sponsors stepped in, Dee was able to bring his project to the Visayas and Mindanao, “in islands surrounded by water, and hit hard by calamities,” he continued.

This time, Dee hopes to help address the public school teachers’ financial woes, riding on the success of the campaign’s 2019 leg where 10,000 educators benefited from the project.

Through it, teachers receive financial literacy advise from experts and volunteers, and are provided with simple tools to help them budget their salary, and get them through the next paycheck and even allow them to start saving and investing for the future. This project is in partnership with AHA Behavioral Studies Inc and in coordination with the Department of Education.

The programs aim to reach 125,000 public school teachers in five years, while the barangay-level program hopes to benefit 125,000 more lives by 2025.

In partnership with Health Futures Foundation Inc., headed by former Health Sec. Jaime Galvez-Tan, the project aims to build health stations to even more depressed communities in the coming years.

Dee himself is no stranger to financial woes, that is why he said he appreciates programs that not only help the underprivileged, but provide financial security to those who have less.

“I started swimming when I was six. My parents just pushed me in the water. That’s how it began for me,” he said.

Having no financial means to sustain his training, Dee said he relied on other people’s support and the assistance of the local government to help him achieve his dream.

“They paid for the pool, and provided our jackets and uniforms. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it,” he continued.

“If you are willing to go further in achieving your dreams, it doesn’t matter what blockage is in front of you,” Dee shared.