Philippines

Payments & Settlements

BSP Urges Rural Banks to Promote Financial Inclusion Through Tech

By Mark Johnston | 07/12/2021

As of end-June 2021, there were over 3,000 rural banks nationwide. However, only 21 of them offer PESONet and 11 offer InstaPay for electronic fund transfer services.

Cloud & Infrastructure

Philippine SEC Seeks Funding Boost to Support Digital Transformation

By Mark Johnston | 06/12/2021

The SEC is seeking PHP 2.6 billion over a five year period to implement sweeping digital transformation initiatives, including to upgrade existing systems.

Anti-Money Laundering

Billionaire’s Arrest Signals China’s Intent to End Cross-Border Gambling

By Darien Choong | 05/12/2021

Suncity Group’s Alvin Chau allegedly operated a gambling syndicate that used Macau as a base for an illegal “live web betting platform” in the Philippines, targetting customers in mainland China.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime

Police Arrest 1,000 in Interpol Operation Targeting Online Fraud

By Ranamita Chakraborty | 01/12/2021

The operation was used to test a new worldwide stop-payment mechanism which Interpol plans to fully embed in police communication channels next year.

Payments & Settlements

BSP Allows Digital Banks to Participate in Monetary Operations

By Editors | 30/11/2021

Digital banks and unit investment trust funds can also participate in the secondary market for central bank securities.

Climate Risk

Thailand Needs Government Intervention to Achieve Net-zero

By Pongnut Thanaboonchai | 25/11/2021

Market forces alone will not be sufficient for Thailand to tackle carbon emissions and achieve net-zero, says Pongnut Thanaboonchai.

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

BSP Issues Revised Corporate Governance Rules for FIs

By Editors | 25/11/2021

Non-Filipino citizens can become members of a bank’s board of directors, to the extent of foreign ownership in the institution.

Structural Regulation

Philippine SEC Issues Draft Rules for Online Lenders, Fintechs

By Mark Johnston | 24/11/2021

The SEC is seeking a greater degree of regulatory oversight for fintech firms and digital lenders to address “abusive and predatory practices”.

Structural Regulation

BSP to Stop Accepting Applications for E-Money Issuer Licences

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 22/11/2021

EMI licence applications received from non-bank institutions will be processed until 15 December on a first-come, first-served basis.