Digital payment transactions flowing through the central bank’s electronic transfer systems surged past ₱19 trillion in the first seven months of the year, driven by aggressive volume expansion following a sweeping series of interbank fee waivers. According to the latest data from the Bangko...
Monetary authorities are widely expected to deliver a third consecutive 25-basis-point interest rate increase on Thursday, Aug. 27, as persistent supply disruptions, recent wage hikes, and a weakening currency keep inflation risks tilted to the upside. A majority of private-sector economists...
Japanese credit rating agency Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I) expects Philippine economic growth to lag behind its 2025 pace as the country continues to bear the brunt of corruption-led infrastructure spending delays in 2026. This projection comes even as R&I affirmed the...
As a chronicler of developments in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), it’s reasonable to assume that “DG” means deputy governor. This time, I beg to differ, Virginia. “DG” here refers to Dino Gasmen, the incoming assistant governor for finance and next treasurer of the BSP, who will...
The Philippines’ balance of payments (BOP) swung to a $1.47-billion deficit in July, reversing the $3.4-billion surplus recorded in June, as the country’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves fell to their lowest level in 18 months. The July deficit brought the cumulative BOP shortfall to $5.35...
Big banking players and digital lenders should not rely solely on “fit and proper” standards when appointing and retaining executives, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said, calling instead for continuous assessments of their technical expertise, particularly in managing data and cyber...
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) signaled it remains prepared to adjust monetary policy further as upside risks to inflation accelerate and spillover effects threaten to broaden across the economy. Speaking at a legislative budget briefing on Monday, Aug. 17, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr....
Digital payments came just over five percentage points (ppts) short of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 70-percent target for 2028, already accounting for nearly two-thirds of the country’s total retail transactions in 2025. BSP Deputy Governor Zeno Ronald R. Abenoja reported during the...
Growth in money sent home by overseas Filipinos slowed to its weakest pace in more than four years in June, as softer economic conditions in host markets and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East dampened worker inflows. According to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng...
The Philippines remains far from stagflation despite high inflation and sluggish economic growth, members of the Marcos Jr. administration’s economic team said, pushing back against Monetary Board Member (MBM) Benjamin E. Diokno’s characterization of the current situation as “stagflation...
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) retains room for an additional 50 basis points (bps) of rate hikes at its remaining policy meetings, potentially closing the year with a benchmark rate of 5.25 percent, according to Japanese financial giant MUFG Bank Ltd. MUFG Global Markets Research wrote in...
The Philippine financial system’s total resources climbed to a record ₱38.31 trillion at the end of the second quarter, driven by sustained loan expansion and accelerated deposit accumulation following a major increase in deposit insurance coverage. According to preliminary data from the Bangko...
