ALCOY, CEBU, September 29-30, 2026
Community enterprises depend on sound financial decisions, but the people making them are not always trained to read the numbers behind them. To close this gap, the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF), through the Promoting Community-Based Ecotourism in Marine Protected Areas and Mangrove Areas (ProComTour) Project, conducted the Financial Management: Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants (BANA) training for the Alcoy Ecotourism Workers’ Association (AEWA) at the Eusebio Sestoso Memorial Gymnasium.
The two-day training was attended by 20 participants (6 men and 14 women) from AEWA, the tourism sector, and CCEF. It was designed for people who handle budgets, make financial decisions, or interpret financial reports even though accounting is not their profession.
Learning the language of finance
The first lecture introduced the building blocks of accounting: assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses. Participants learned the accounting equation and how a business is financed through either liabilities or equity. They also reviewed the four major financial statements (the balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, and statement of changes in equity) and the stages of the accounting cycle, from the first recorded transaction to the final report.
Common terms such as accounts receivable, accounts payable, depreciation, and accrual versus cash basis were explained, along with the books of accounts: the cash disbursement book, journal voucher, general ledger, and cash receipts book. Participants then applied what they learned through exercises on the accounting equation and on finding missing values.
Managing funds with accountability
The second lecture focused on financial management systems: how an organization plans, organizes, directs, and controls its funds. Participants learned why accurate records matter, why authorized signatories and approved budgets are essential, and how an auditor’s review supports transparency. The session also covered fund disbursements such as cash advances, petty cash, reimbursements, and payroll, including the cash advance and liquidation process and the difference between accounting and bookkeeping.
Learning by doing
The training closed with a Kahoot game and hands-on exercises in preparing a journal entry, an income statement, and a balance sheet. By the end of the two days, participants were not only reading financial data but working with it, and doing so with greater confidence.
Strengthening community enterprises
Through BANA, CCEF continues to support its vision of Sustainable Coasts and Involved Communities. Strong financial skills help community organizations like AEWA manage resources transparently, make informed decisions, and sustain the work of protecting Alcoy’s coastal and tourism assets for years to come. The ProComTour Project is generously funded by the Unico Conservation Foundation.
