Elvie Joy S.

Pelagio Monetary Policy and Central Banking

BSBA – FMGT 2A

Creating a Central Bank for the Philippines

A group of Filipinos had conceptualized a central bank for the Philippines as early as 1933. It
came up with the rudiments of a bill for the establishment of a central bank for the country after
a careful study of the economic provisions of the Hare-Hawes Cutting bill, the Philippine
independence bill approved by the US Congress.

During the Commonwealth period (1935-1941), the discussion about a Philippine central bank
that would promote price stability and economic growth continued. The country’s monetary
system then was administered by the Department of Finance and the National Treasury. The
Philippines was on the exchange standard using the US dollar—which was backed by 100 percent
gold reserve—as the standard currency.

In 1939, as required by the Tydings-McDuffie Act, the Philippine legislature passed a law
establishing a central bank. As it was a monetary law, it required the approval of the United States
president. However, President Franklin D. Roosevelt disapproved it due to strong opposition
from vested interests. A second law was passed in 1944 during the Japanese occupation, but the
arrival of the American liberalization forces aborted its implementation.

Shortly after President Manuel Roxas assumed office in 1946, he instructed then Finance
Secretary Miguel Cuaderno, Sr. to draw up a charter for a central bank. The establishment of a
monetary authority became imperative a year later as a result of the findings of the Joint
Philippine-American Finance Commission chaired by Mr. Cuaderno. The Commission, which
studied Philippine financial, monetary and fiscal problems in 1947, recommended a shift from
the dollar exchange standard to a managed currency system. A central bank was necessary to
implement the proposed shift to the new system.

Immediately, the Central Bank Council, which was created by President Manuel Roxas to prepare
the charter of a proposed monetary authority, produced a draft. It was submitted to Congress in
February1948. By June of the same year, the newly-proclaimed President Elpidio Quirino, who
succeeded President Roxas, affixed his signature on Republic Act No. 265, the Central Bank Act
of 1948. The establishment of the Central Bank of the Philippines was a definite step toward
national sovereignty. Over the years, changes were introduced to make the charter more
responsive to the needs of the economy. On 29 November 1972, Presidential Decree No. 72
adopted the recommendations of the Joint IMF-CB Banking Survey Commission which made a
study of the Philippine banking system. The Commission proposed a program designed to ensure
the system’s soundness and healthy growth. Its most important recommendations were related to
the objectives of the Central Bank, its policy-making structures, scope of its authority and
procedures for dealing with problem financial institutions.

Subsequent changes sought to enhance the capability of the Central Bank, in the light of a
developing economy, to enforce banking laws and regulations and to respond to emerging central
banking issues. Thus, in the 1973 Constitution, the National Assembly was mandated to establish
an independent central monetary authority. Later, PD 1801 designated the Central Bank of the
Philippines as the central monetary authority (CMA). Years later, the 1987 Constitution adopted
the provisions on the CMA from the 1973 Constitution that were aimed essentially at establishing
an independent monetary authority through increased capitalization and greater private sector
representation in the Monetary Board.

The administration that followed the transition government of President Corazon C. Aquino saw
the turning of another chapter in Philippine central banking. In accordance with a provision in
the 1987 Constitution, President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law Republic Act No. 7653, the
New Central Bank Act, on 14 June 1993. The law provides for the establishment of an
independent monetary authority to be known as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, with the
maintenance of price stability explicitly stated as its primary objective. This objective was only
implied in the old Central Bank charter. The law also gives the Bangko Sentral fiscal and
administrative autonomy which the old Central Bank did not have. On 3 July 1993, the New
Central Bank Act took effect.

The BSP Monetary Board

Chairman Benjamin E. Diokno

Members Carlos G. Dominguez III

Felipe M. Medalla
Juan De Zuniga, Jr.
Peter B. Favila
Antonio S. Abacan, Jr.
V. Bruce J. Tolentino