Philippine exports are on track toward closing the year with better numbers and sustain the sector’s improved performance in the first half as the country and the rest of the world continue to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, according to the central bank. In an online briefing on Thursday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin…
The opening of “low-cost, no-frills” bank accounts in the Philippines has risen substantially with the help of the central bank’s aggressive campaign to draw more Filipinos into the formal financial system, according to the agency. In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ said that the number of basic deposit accounts in the first quarter…
Lending by banks to small businesses has skyrocketed since the central bank approved a measure to count these loans as an alternative form of compliance with the reserve levels required of financial institutions. According to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno, the banking system allocated an average of as alternative compliance with the reserve…
The country’s financial regulators have agreed to streamline their procedures governing mergers and acquisitions in the local banking industry in a bid to expedite the process of consolidation among financial institutions. Initiated by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation, the multi-agency project, which is the first of its kind among financial regulators, aims to harmonize the…
Filipino entrepreneurs who have adopted electronic payment systems are now even more productive, efficient and competitive, thanks to the new quick response (QR) code system that makes person-to-merchant transactions easier. In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) further urged consumers, payment service providers and merchants, including micro, small and medium enterprises, to avail…
Filipino consumers are more optimistic about the coming final quarter of the year, but are less upbeat about their prospects for the next 12 months, according to the results of the central bank’s latest consumer confidence survey. At the same time, a parallel business confidence survey issued simultaneously by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)…
One of the country’s largest electricity producers—one that is heavily reliant on coal—surprised market watchers recently by announcing a strategic shift away from the cheap but environmentally damaging power source. At the same time, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said it would be adding renewable energy to its power portfolio, using technologies that would significantly cut…
On the surface, coal power makes for a compelling business proposition. It is the cheapest fossil fuel in terms of energy content. It is relatively abundant, and relies on proven technology to generate electricity that is safe to operate and efficient. It is also reliable, with coal-fired plants having the ability to provide so-called baseload…
San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) P740-billion airport and mixed use development being built in Bulacan will incorporate sustainable and environmentally friendly features that will address the shortcomings of current urban centers, including a proposal to integrate a “bicycle highway” with a train system. Thus said company president Ramon Ang, who on Tuesday said the country’s largest…
The inflow of long-term investments into the country continued its momentum in April 2021 as foreign fund managers allocated more funds to Philippine-issued debt from both the public and private sectors, according to the central bank. In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said that foreign direct investment net inflows more than doubled at…