BSP Governor Diokno awarded as ‘Global Central Banker of the Year’

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno was awarded the “Global Central Banker of the Year 2022” by international business magazine “The Banker.”

Diokno bested other regional central bankers who were also awarded as the best central bankers of their respective regions — Central Bank of Peru Chairman Julio Velarde for the Americas, Banque de France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau for Europe, Central Bank of Bahrain Governor Rasheed M Al-Maraj for the Middle East, and Bank of Tanzania Governor Florens Luoga for Africa.

“I am truly honored to be named The Banker’s Global Central Banker of the Year. This award recognizes the effort we at the BSP have put forth over this past year—amid extraordinary challenges,” Diokno said in an emailed statement.

Diokno took over as the BSP Governor in March 2019, taking over the post left behind by the late Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. who passed away in February the same year after battling tongue cancer for over a year.

Diokno earlier said he wants at least 50% of all transactions — in terms of both volume and value — done digitally by the end of his term in 2023.

“While the entire world has been affected by the pandemic, the BSP has implemented policy responses to enable the Philippines to adapt to new ways of working, doing business, and living,” he said Wednesday.

“Looking ahead, alongside my colleagues at the BSP, I will continue to work toward a stronger, more technologically savvy, more inclusive, and more sustainable Philippine economy,” he added.

The BSP in July 2021 approved to loan out another P540 billion to the Philippine government to be used as budgetary support as the country faces a fiscal deficit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to this, the BSP already approved two loans worth P540 billion each to the national government — one in December 2020, and another in October last year.

The central bank also lent out some P300 billion to the government through the form of securities in March 2020.—LDF, GMA News