Foreign reserves hold steady despite peso volatility

The Philippines’ gross international reserves (GIR) — the country’s first line of defense against external economic shocks — edged up modestly in November to $111.3 billion, about $200 million higher than the previous month, according to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

“The latest GIR level ensures availability of foreign exchange to meet balance of payments financing needs, such as for payment of imports and debt service, in extreme conditions when there are no export earnings or foreign loans,” the central bank said.

The BSP maintained that the current reserve level remains sufficient, providing external liquidity equivalent to 7.4 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments for services and primary income, unchanged from October.

It added that the country’s reserves cover about four times its short-term external debt based on residual maturity, which includes outstanding foreign debt with an original maturity of one year or less, as well as principal payments on medium and long-term loans of both the public and private sectors falling due within the next 12 months.

The Philippines’ reserves consist of foreign-denominated securities, foreign currencies, and other reserve assets, including gold.

These resources help finance imports and external debt obligations, stabilize the peso, and provide a buffer against external shocks such as currency volatility and natural disasters.

The peso experienced sharp fluctuations in November, briefly hitting a then-record low of P59.17 per dollar on 12 November, amid political uncertainty and a strengthening US dollar.

During the same period, typhoon “Tino” struck parts of the country, causing widespread damage in the south, including an estimated P185.25 million in agricultural losses in Iloilo alone.

GIR plays a critical buffer during such shocks by supplying foreign exchange to cover imports, service foreign debt, and help stabilize the currency during periods of market stress.

The current GIR level remains well above the international adequacy benchmark of at least three months’ worth of imports and external payments.