There is life after SDA

I was confronted recently by a good friend following the latest reduction of the Special Deposit Account (SDA) rate to 2 percent across all tenors. “At the rate the Monetary Board is slashing the SDA rate, there will be nothing left for us retirees,” he groaned. Incoming search terms:bsp sda (3)philippines agency accounts special deposit accounts (2)sda rates (2) var addthis_config... 

DBP helps

THIS is certainly great news for poor-but-deserving students. While most of our local banks have been giving scholarships to our academically inclined youth, the recent move of the state-run Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) should be given extra credit. Incoming search terms:dbp news (18)chiz escudero berna romulo (1)dbp helps (1)DBP HELPS program (1)MAY 20 2013 (1) Read More »

Liberalizing the sale of foreign exchange

In two previous articles, we wrote about the “problem of plenty” brought about by the surge of dollar inflows into the country. The Bangko Sentral has responded by “sterilizing” the dollars. We explained that the “sterilization” operations were quite costly but necessary in order to relieve pressure on vulnerable sectors such as our OFWs, our exporters, and the BPO sector... 

Inspiring stories

In celebration of Metrobank’s 50th anniversary, the Metrobank Foundation recently launched three coffee-table books that highlight the best of the Filipino. The three books are “MADE of Gold,” “10 Outstanding Filipino Teachers,” and “Metrobank Foundation Exemplars.” Incoming search terms:Inspiring stories tempo (5)inspiring stories (3)2013 Metrobank SOT Finalists (2)inspirational... 

Three books

Manila, Philippines – As part of the celebration of Metrobank’s 50th anniversary, the Metrobank Foundation recently launched three coffee-table books that certainly make us proud to be Filipino. The three books are entitled: “MADE of Gold,” “10 Outstanding Filipino Teachers,” and “Metrobank Foundation Exemplars.” Incoming search terms:Fidel V Ramos (1)inspiring filipino... 

ATM skimming

Manila, Philippines – We may have heard of the term “ATM skimming” – a criminal endeavor involving an unwitting ATM user and a technologically savvy perpetrator – in recent new reports. According to Dr. Johnny Noe Ravalo, managing director of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the suspects carry on with this modus operandi by installing a seemingly “chameleonic”... 

Thrift banks – for broader horizons

(Concluded from last week) Manila, Philippines – During the recent Chamber of Thrift Banks (CTB) annual convention, BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. and former CTB President Gigi Montinola, had these words of advice for the CTB. Specifically, the chamber could broaden its horizons by elevating its vantage point. In other words, thrift banks should see the big picture. Let me... 

Thrift banks — for broader horizons

Manila, Philippines – I had the privilege of witnessing the changing of the guard of the Chamber of Thrift Banks during CTB’s recent annual convention. TG Limcaoco, president of BPI Family Bank, took over the helms of the chamber from Patrick Cheng, president of HSBC Savings Bank. It was an auspicious occasion for the thrift bankers whose convention theme was Building for Broader... 

‘Food Heroes’

(Concluded from last week) Manila, Philippines – In last week’s column, I wrote about Oxfam’s list of Filipina “Food Heroes” to celebrate International Women’s Month. Oxfam is an international humanitarian and development confederation of 17 organizations networked together in more than 94 countries. It aims to “build a future free from the injustice of poverty.” “Food... 

‘Food Heroes’

Manila, Philippines – In celebration of International Women’s Month, humanitarian and development organization Oxfam has come up with a list of 10 extraordinary Filipina “Food Heroes.” “Unknown to many, feeding the country – and 93 million Filipinos – also falls on the shoulders of women,” Joseph Edward Alegado, Oxfam in the Philippines media and communications officer,...