The Philippine banking community expressed optimism during the annual bankers’ night held Friday last week as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla reassured attendees that the Philippine banking system is “strong, stable, resilient, and responsive to the evolving needs of the growing economy.”
Despite lingering concerns about COVID-19, bankers interacted freely without masks and shared wide smiles.
The event was attended by prominent personalities, including RCBC’s Helen Dee, past BSP governors Amando Tetangco and Jose Cuisia, Ayala Group chairman Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Metrobank’s Arthur Ty, Lance Gokongwei of the Gokongwei Group, and former finance secretary and current PSE chairman Jose “Titoy” Pardo.
The bankers discussed their businesses’ improved financial performance, with BDO posting a 33 percent increase in profits to a record P57.2 billion and RCBC seeing a 71 percent surge to P12.1 billion.
However, there were also talks of continuity in the BSP, with Governor Medalla’s term set to end in June.
Also in attendance were Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Senators Mark Villar and Grace Poe who showed strong support for the BSP, despite lingering risks from the Russia-Ukraine war and a continuing high-interest rate scenario.
Bank of the Philippine Islands President TG Limcauco, Philippine National Bank Chairman Federico Pascual, and President Florido “Doy” Casuela were also present during the event.
