*By Goddes Hope O. Libiran* There's a popular stereotype that finance and economic experts are stiff and inaccessible when it comes to discussing even the basics of why and how the Philippine economy is either in a slump or stepping up. But not Secretary of Finance Benjamin Diokno, whose stellar...
The government should now focus on addressing supply constraints that caused high inflation, as President Marcos’ chief economic manager pointed out that monetary policy has already done enough to reign in demand. Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said that slower inflation recorded in March...
Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno believes that it is very likely that inflation already peaked last January given the latest consumer price growth forecast of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). In a briefing on Tuesday, April 4, Diokno said the central bank’s forecast range of 7.4 percent...
The United Kingdom (UK) government launched its British Investment Partnerships (BIP) to finance sustainable development in the Philippines, the Department of Finance (DOF) said. “Today’s event is a major win not only in the Philippines’ development journey, but in the realm of development...
Land Bank of the Philippines is poised to overtake the Sy-led BDO Unibank Inc. as the country’s largest bank after President Marcos approved the proposed merger of the two state-owner lenders. Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said the government will merge the Development Bank of the...
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno is addressing what he described as “the elephant in the room”, referring to the much-needed reforms in the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension scheme, which is taxpayer-supported and receives no contribution from the retirees themselves. During a...
A pause in interest rate hikes is likely in the policy meeting of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in May, the Department of Finance (DOF) said. "The BSP has done enough, in my view,” Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno told reporters after the central bank raised its benchmark interest rate...
The Bureau of Customs announced the creation of an advisory council that will engage all stakeholders, like the private sector, in formulating strategies for the government’s second largest tax agency. In a statement on Monday, March 20, Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said the advisory...
The Department of Finance (DOF) reported that the national government posted a budget surplus in the first-month of the year owing to robust revenue collection and weak public spending. Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said on Friday, March 17, that the government fiscal surplus reached P45.75...
The Philippine economy is spared from the high-profile collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the Department of Finance (DOF) said on Wednesday, March 15. Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said local banks have no exposure to the problems faced in the US financial sector in the aftermath of...
The Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) would be the alternative source of government financing once the Philippines becomes an upper-middle income economy, which disqualifies the country from less expensive development loans, the Department of Finance (DOF) said. Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno...
Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno was not bothered about rumors that he was on his "way out" of the Marcos administration, saying his reported replacement, who is currently a House lawmaker, is a friend. On the sidelines of the Pilipinas Conference on Tuesday, Nov. 22, Diokno shrugged off...
