State-owned Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) wrapped up 2021 by further expanding touchpoints in key strategic areas nationwide, as part of its thrust of promoting greater financial inclusion and providing a more delightful banking experience to customers. LANDBANK’s total branch network reached 489 branches and branch-lite units across all 81 provinces nationwide as of 31 December 2021. The Bank …

State-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) recorded a net income of P21.75 billion in 2021—a 27% expansion from P17.14 billion in 2020—on the back of lower cost of funds and provision for losses.  LANDBANK’s total assets likewise grew 9.5% year-on-year to P2.586 trillion from P2.362 trillion. This was propelled by deposits expanding by 8.39% to P2.269 trillion, mainly from …

Despite the limited mobility caused by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, has completed relief operations in nine provinces hit hardest by Typhoon Odette, one of the most destructive storms to make landfall in the Philippines in recent years. The foundation, in line with its disaster response advocacy, successfully delivered …

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) imposed a penalty amounting to P15.5 million on ten generation companies for exceeding the maximum yearly outage limit in 2021. “We have been on the watch for gencos who exceed allowed unplanned outage days,” said ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Agnes VST Devanadera.  “We are constantly monitoring and reviewing the weekly reports being submitted by …

Cash dividends paid out by listed companies to common shareholders last year rose 17.3% to P402.18 billion from 2020’s P342.88 billion, translating to dividend yields of 2.58% and 2.50%, respectively, Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) data showed. For PSEi companies, cash dividends paid by 28 of the 30 main index members amounted to P157.58 billion, giving common shareholders a 1.72% dividend …

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued additional clarification and directives to all BSP supervised financial institutions (BSFIs) in handling targeted financial sanctions (TFS) that match their risk profiles. Memorandum Order M-2022-007 issued Feb. 2, BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi G. Fonacier said banks and non-banks must carefully consider and study the TFS guidelines that were issued by the BSP in 2021 …

The Department of Finance (DOF) said it expects a sustained recovery in trade and economic activities this year, following the move by Congress to amend the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, Foreign Investment Act and the Public Service Act. The DOF said: “The recently approved amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, along with other economic liberalization initiatives such as the …

City cafés tried to bring the outdoors in. Café Plantcetera always had gardens in mind. Plants and coffee. What better combination can put someone in a good mood and promote good health? Plants, after all, are known to reduce stress levels and even improve the quality of indoor air by reducing volatile organic compounds and the concentration of carbon dioxide. …

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor and Financial Inclusion Steering Committee (FISC) Chairman Benjamin E. Diokno (top, right) leads the ceremonial donning of the financial inclusion pin during the launch of the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) 2022-2028. The NSFI 2022-2028 builds on the success of the first NSFI launched in 2015 and renews the vision of financial inclusion …

On 18 February 2022, the BSP will begin publishing its Monetary Policy Report (MPR). The MPR, which will replace the quarterly publication of the Inflation Report, will be published four (4) times a year to correspond with the availability of major economic data releases such as the quarterly national income accounts. The MPR will serve as the flagship BSP publication …