The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is granting regulatory relief measures to banks to enable them to similarly assist and ease the financial burden of bank customers adversely affected by Typhoon “Gener” which devastated several parts of the country last 28 July to 2 August 2012. Eligible for the relief measures are those in the following areas identified by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on 20 September 2012:
- NCR: Makati City, Malabon City, Manila City, Marikina City, Muntinlupa City, Navotas City, Parañaque City, Quezon City, Taguig City and Valenzuela City
- Region I: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan
- Region II: Cagayan
- Region III: Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales,
- Region IV-A: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal
- Region IV-B: Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro
- Region V: Masbate and Sorsogon
- Region VI: Aklan, Antique, Iloilo and Negros Occidental
- Region VII: Cebu
- Region IX: Zamboanga del Norte
- Region X: Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental
- Region XI: Davao del Sur
- Region XII: North Cotabato
- CAR: Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province
Similar relief measures were extended by the BSP to thrift and rural/cooperative banks in cities/provinces that were affected by previous typhoons such as Sendong, Pedring, Mina and Juaning in 2011, and southwest monsoon “Habagat” and typhoon Helen in 2012.
As approved on 8 November 2012 by the Monetary Board, the BSP’s policy-making body, the temporary relief measures include:
For Thrift Banks/Rural Banks/Cooperative Banks
1. Excluding existing loans of borrowers in affected areas from the computation of past due ratios provided these are restructured or given relief;
2. Reducing the 5 percent general loan loss provision to 1 percent for restructured loans of borrowers in the affected areas;
3. Non-imposition of penalties on legal reserves deficiencies with head office and/or branches in the affected areas;
4. Moratorium on monthly payments due to BSP for banks with ongoing rehabilitation programs;
5. Subject to BSP approval, booking of allowance for probable losses on a staggered basis over maximum of five (5) years for all types of credit extended to individual and businesses directly affected by the calamity;
6. Non-imposition of monetary penalties for delays in the submission of supervisory reports;
For All Banks
7. Allowing banks to provide financial assistance to their officers and employees who were affected by the calamity including those assistance that may not be within the scope of the existing BSP-approved Fringe Benefit Program;
For All Rediscounting Banks
8. Granting of a 60-day grace period to settle the outstanding rediscounting obligations as of 28 July 2012 with the BSP of all rediscounting banks in the affected areas; and
9. Allowing banks to restructure with the BSP, on a case-to-case basis, the outstanding rediscounted loans of borrowers affected by the calamity.
These measures will be in effect for a defined period and covered by additional specific and other prudential conditions.
To view article on BSP website, please click the link below:
http://www.bsp.gov.ph/publications/media.asp?id=3042
Article lifted from: Bangko Sentral ng PIlipinas, November 14,2012