BSP pays tribute to stakeholders strengthening the nation’s digital finance ecosystem

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) continues to highlight the power of partnership in strengthening the country’s financial ecosystem, honoring its outstanding institutional allies across the Visayas and North Luzon during the 2025 Outstanding BSP Stakeholders Appreciation Ceremony (OBSAC).

Held in Iloilo City on September 23 for the Visayas Regional Office and in Calasiao, Pangasinan on October 7 for the North Luzon branches, the OBSAC gatherings recognized banks, cooperatives, local government units, and private institutions that have played pivotal roles in advancing the BSP’s core mandates — promoting price stability, financial stability, and a safe and efficient payments and settlements system.

Since its launch in 2004, the OBSAC has served as a platform for the BSP to celebrate collaboration with the financial sector and recognize the various organizations that transform policies into practical impact — from driving digital payments to expanding financial inclusion in underserved areas.

Monetary Board Member Benjamin E. Diokno

“The work of our awardees strengthens communities, builds trust, and lays the foundation for a more inclusive and resilient economy,” said BSP Monetary Board Member Benjamin E. Diokno, addressing Visayas partners during the Iloilo ceremony.

In a similar note, Monetary Board Member Walter C. Wassmer, speaking in Pangasinan, commended the honorees for their long-standing collaboration with the BSP, saying, “Together, you have planted the seeds of trust, inclusion, and innovation. Today, we see the harvest not just in money but in the everyday lives of our kababayan.”

Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat echoed these sentiments, saying that while the BSP designs the country’s monetary and digital frameworks, it is the stakeholders who “bring them to life in the everyday stories of Filipinos.”

Recognizing financial inclusion champions

Monetary Board Member Benjamin E. Diokno (top row, center) and BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (top row, right) led the recognition of outstanding partners of BSP Visayas Regional Office on September 23, 2025.

Across the Visayas, 10 institutional partners were honored for their efforts in financial education, digital payments adoption, and efficient currency management. The awardees included:

• Card Bank, Inc. – Roxas Branch
• Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) branches in Dumaguete, Tacloban, and the Cash Operations Unit in Iloilo
• Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. branches in Cebu Fuente Osmeña and Roxas
• Local Government of Talisay City, Negros Occidental
• Cebu Bankers Club
• Tacloban Bankers Association, Inc.
• Perpetual Help Community Cooperative

These institutions were recognized for their contributions to promoting financial literacy, encouraging digital transactions, and supporting the BSP’s gold-buying program.

BSP Monetary Board Member Walter C. Wassmer (top row, 5^th from left), together with BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (top row, 6^th from left) led the recognition ceremony for the outstanding partners of the BSP in North Luzon on October 7, 2025.

Meanwhile, in North Luzon, 16 outstanding partners were cited for advancing similar initiatives. These included:

• China Banking Corporation – Baguio-La Trinidad Cash Center
• Land Bank of the Philippines branches in Batac, Cabanatuan, Dagupan, San Fernando City (La Union), and Tuguegarao
• Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. – Dagupan Branch
• Rang-ay Bank, Inc. (A Rural Bank)
• Cooperative Development Authority – Region III
• Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Region II
• Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) offices in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Region II
• Bankers Association of Laoag City and Ilocos Norte, Inc.
• La Union Bankers Association
• University of Saint Louis – Tuguegarao

The City Government of Cabanatuan and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan were also recognized earlier this year as outstanding partners of the BSP Head Office.

Strengthening the country’s digital financial backbone

Earlier this year, the VRO OBSAC 2025 also followed similar appreciation ceremonies for the central bank’s head office, as well as South Luzon, Mindanao, and North Luzon partners.

The OBSAC 2025 series, which began in July at the BSP Head Office, and continued through South Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and North Luzon, reflects the central bank’s commitment to fostering a more connected and digital-ready financial ecosystem.

As the BSP advances its digital payments roadmap and financial inclusion strategy, partnerships with local banks, cooperatives, and government units remain crucial. These collaborations enable fintech adoption at the grassroots level — from supporting cashless payments to empowering small businesses through easier access to credit and digital financial services.

Through the OBSAC, the BSP not only honors its institutional allies but also reaffirms a broader vision: a future-ready financial system where every Filipino can participate in an inclusive, secure, and innovative economy.