Coin Recirculation From BSP
Coin Recirculation From BSP
The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) created on March 2005 the
Currency Management Committee (CuMC) to address problems arising from the circulation of
Philippine currency.
In its first meeting held on 21 March 2005, the then Deputy Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr.,
the first chair of CuMC stressed that the creation of the committee has become imperative in
view of the following concerns:
As of 31 December 2005, there were 11.1 billion pieces of coins in circulation, 6.7 billion pieces
of which were low-denomination coins. This brought coins per capita to 121, way above the
ASEAN standard of 50 pieces. Yet, demand remains unfilled in many parts of the country
because coins are not being recirculated, or used regularly by the public. Coins are kept inside
bank vaults, in piggy banks, inside drawers, used as washers, or thrown away as inconvenience.
The former Chair also emphasized that CuMC's main objective is to ensure efficient production,
delivery distribution and circulation of notes and coins consistent with the requirements of the
economy, and other related activities. He advised the committee to consider the possibility of
encouraging banks and other sectors of society to help in BSP's efforts to effect an efficient
recirculation of our coins.
Deputy Governor for the Monetary Stability Sector Diwa C. Guinigundo assumed the
chairmanship of CuMC when Mr. Amando M. Tetangco Jr. took his oath as the new BSP
Governor on June 2005, succeeding Rafael B. Buenaventura.
Deputy Governor Guinigundo sees the urgency of the problem and promptly buckled down to
work on the implementation of the BSP Coin Recirculation Program. The CuMC met with
representatives from the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP), Chamber of Thrift Banks
(CTB), Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), Bank Management of the
Philippines, Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), Pondong Pinoy, and representatives from
other charitable institutions to present the program and get their reaction.
The banking sector as represented by the BAP, CTB, RBAP and BMAP, being the intermediary
between BSP and retailers/consumers, is a key stakeholder in the Coin Recirculation program.
The retail sector as represented by PRA which has the highest demand for coins particularly the
lower-denominated ones, is another key stakeholder. Pondong Pinoy and other charitable
organizations collecting coins in cans, on the other hand, have voiced out the problems they
encounter in collecting coin donations and depositing them in banks.
The low regard towards lower-denominated coins is one of the main reasons coins are not
circulating efficiently. Schoolchildren as agents of change in their homes and communities,
however, can generate better appreciation of the use of coins. For this reason, the participation
of schools and schoolchildren is deemed crucial for the program's success. The program will
also give pupils the opportunity to exercise civic responsibility. Furthermore, certain disciplines
within Makabayan may be entry points by which positive values like pagkamasinop,
pagkamatipid, pag-iimpok and pagkakaisa can be instilled among schoolchildren in the
Elementary Level.
A similar MOA by and among the BSP and the stakeholders in the banking and retail sectors will
be signed during the Bankers' Reception on 17 January..
All the stakeholders in the Coin Recirculation Program agreed that the drive towards a more
efficient recirculation of our coins would be achieved only if all sectors of society fully realize
the importance of coins and cultivate the habit of regularly using them in giving payments and
exact change, and engaging in altruistic activities. Hence, the CuMC embarked on a public
awareness campaign.
To set the example in coin recirculation and help Gawad Kalinga (GK), CuMC conducted in
November a coin recirculation contest among BSP employees. The contest is aimed at
developing awareness among BSP personnel on the Coin Recirculation Program and flushing
out coins kept idle in cans, plastics, boxes, cups, or glasses in cabinets, or drawers. More than a
million low-denomination coins were collected. Top three departments gathering the most
number of lower-denominated coins in the "gross" and "per capita" categories each received a
trophy during BSP's Christmas Program held at the PICC. In the same event, checks totaling
P366,340.57 representing the coins collected and cash donations from employees, which is
good for seven (7) GK homes, were also turned over to Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, President,
Ateneo de Manila University and GK Site13 Project head. The Philippine Retailers Association
exchanged the coins with checks.
The CuMC hopes to replicate the campaign in public and private elementary schools nationwide
with the schools as the main beneficiaries and in other government agencies.