The Quezon City Government, together with Bayan Academy, Meta, and the Ateneo de Manila University, has officially launched the Be Wais Community Guides.

This initiative is in collaboration with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Justice, Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Trade and Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission, CitizenWatch PH, and SM Supermalls Inc.

“Be Wais” is part of the city’s stronger push to protect communities from the growing threat of online fraud and scams. Instead of merely reacting to cases, Be Wais empowers Filipinos to proactively guard themselves, their families, and their communities against digital threats.

In recent years, the rise of fraud has become alarming. Reports show that online scams in the Philippines surged by more than 94% in 2023, causing financial losses amounting to nearly 2% of the country’s GDP. At the same time, misinformation continues to spread online, with 67% of Filipinos worried about its impact on their daily lives.

To respond to this crisis, Bayan Academy and Meta partnered with Ateneo Office for Social Concern and Involvement to develop assessment tools and practical training materials aimed at preventing scams and fraud at the grassroots level. The Be Wais Community Guides serve as a hands-on resource for communities, giving them the knowledge and strategies to detect, avoid, and report fraudulent schemes.

“The issue of fraud and scams has grown into a serious threat to our country’s social and economic security. Through the Be Wais Community Guides, we want to move away from the mindset of helplessness and instead promote empowerment. Digital safety today is a new form of bayanihan—when individuals protect themselves, they also protect their families, neighbors, and communities,” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.

As part of the launch, the first batch of 180 Quezon City community members took part in pilot training sessions. This was made possible through the partnership of the Quezon City Public Affairs and Information Services Department (PAISD) and the QC Public Employment Service Office (PESO). The pilot program, part of the city government’s Media and Information Literacy (MIL) endeavors, will serve as a model for other local governments to adopt, showcasing the power of a strong multi-sector collaboration.

Bayan Academy, Meta, Ateneo OSCI, and the Quezon City Government are committed to expanding the reach of Be Wais nationwide, ensuring more Filipinos are equipped to protect themselves online.

“Through a united, multi-sector approach, we can build stronger defenses against fraud and scams,” said Prof. Carlo Sagun, President and CEO of the Bayan Family of Foundations. “Be Wais is not just a one-time campaign, it’s a movement that we will bring across the country, one community at a time.”

Moving forward, the Be Wais Community Guides will be rolled out in various regions across the Philippines. The launch of the Be Wais Community Guides marks an important step in uniting government, civil society, and the private sector to protect Filipinos against fraud and scams. By empowering individuals and communities, the program aims to build a safer, smarter, and more secure digital Philippines.

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