BSP to push financial health in ASEAN 2026

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) plans to place financial health at the center of the regional agenda when the Philippines assumes the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.

BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. outlined this priority during a fireside chat at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) headquarters in Basel, Switzerland on 11 November 2025.

The discussion featured Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA); BIS General Manager Pablo Hernández de Cos; and International Organization of Securities Commissions Chair Jean-Paul Servais.

Hosted by the BIS Financial Stability Institute and the UNSGSA, the forum explored how countries can strengthen household resilience by improving financial systems.

According to the UNSGSA, financial health is achieved when people can meet obligations, withstand financial shocks, pursue long-term goals, and feel secure about their financial situation—conditions shaped by each nation’s economic environment.

Remolona said ASEAN economies must deepen their financial markets and expand access to instruments such as stocks, bonds, insurance products, and savings tools. He emphasized that enabling households to save, invest, and manage risk more effectively will be a central plank of the Philippines’ agenda when it leads ASEAN.

Under its 2026 chairmanship, the Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry and other government agencies, also plans to advance regional integration by supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), promoting cross-border digital trade and interoperable payment systems, and pushing for sustainable, climate-resilient growth across the region.

In addition, the country aims to enhance capital-market coordination and strengthen financial cooperation within ASEAN to improve investment flows, employment opportunities, and inclusive economic development throughout Southeast Asia.