Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said that the central bank’s Monetary Board (MB) will hold its policy meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 14, instead of the originally scheduled Thursday, Feb. 15.
Recto, who represents the government on the MB, explained that the seven-member body decided to advance the meeting by a day due to prior commitments.
Some members, including Recto and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona, will be attending a wedding on Thursday.
Recto's stepson, actor-television host Luis Manzano, and Remolona’s niece, actress-model Jessy Mendiola, will be having their church wedding, the finance chief confirmed.
"Meeting was moved on Wednesday, because we have to attend a wedding on Thursday, my stepson and Governor Eli's niece," Recto told reporters.
Despite the adjustment, analysts expect the central bank to keep the benchmark rate unchanged at 6.5 percent during its first policy meeting of the year.
The press conference to announce the central bank's decision on the benchmark rate will take place as planned on Thursday.