September 2003

by Norman P. Aquino, Senior Reporter
(September 22, 2003,Monday -Business World)

The Monetary Board is allowing merging rural banks to relocate their branches to Metro Manila, a policy shift that should improve access to credit ofmicroenterprises in the metropolis.

By Zinnia B. Dela Peña
(September 21,2003 - The Philippine Star)

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has waived the fines imposed on rural banks that failed to comply with the agency's reportorial requirements.

By Ted P. Torres
(September 09, 2003) Tuesday - The Philippine Star)

If the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) will be successful, the lowly countryside financial sector would soon resurrect to be known as the community bank, or the business center of the countryside community.

By: Eric S. Boras
(September 08, 2003, Monday - Business World)

Small business enterprises in the country are seen to gain better access to capita funding after rural banks pledged to extend more loans to the sector.

By Jojo Guzman
(September 05, 2003, Friday - Abante)

CABANATUAN CITY — Malaking tulong sa ekonomiya ng Nueva Ecija ang perang iniimpok sa mga rural banks at hindi tulad ng perang dinideposito sa ibang commercial banks na nailalabas pa sa probinsya.

By EHL
(September 04, 2003, Thursday - Business Bulletin)

Social Security System (SSS) has opened a special financing facility for small enterprises to support the "barangay micro business" program of the government in its bid to spur the economic development of the country.

(September 03, 2003, Wednesday - The Philippine Star)

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Alberto Reyes has announced that the BSP has approved Planters Development Bank's (Plantersbank) acqusition of Region Bank (Los Banos Rural Bank, Inc.).

By Clarissa S. Batino
(September 02, 2003, Tuesday - Philippine Daily Inquirer)

THE BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas has approved Planters Development Bank's acquisition of Region Bank, formerly known as Los Banos Rural Bank Inc.

(September 02, 2003, Tuesday - The Philippine Star)

The Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS)program will hold the graduation ceremonies of its MABS service provider professionals as well as serves as the formal launching of the program on Sept. 5. MABS is a program supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines. The program assitsrural banks in developing the capability to profitably provide microfinance services. MABS worked vvilli over 100 rural bank units, which in turn disbursed P2.7 billion in loans to more than P90,000 microenterprises. The MABS service Provider program ensures the continuity of the thrust while accelerating the delivery of training and technical support. It is actually in its third batch of the program, which lasts for six-months.

By Fil C. Sionil
(September 01, 2003, Monday - Business Bulletin)

The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has lifted the moratorium on the licensing issuance of new cooperative banks to enhance credit and help spur economic activities in the countryside.