IslamicFinance.de

The central bank of the Phillipines has issued regulations to kickstart the implementation of Islamic banking in the country. Special emphasis is on bringing banking services to the underserved areas of Muslim Mindanao.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) adopted the regulations with supplementary requirements relevant to Islamic banking operations and Shari’ah compliance. The law was signed into law on August 22, 2019 and became effective on September 15, 2019. It provides the BSP with the legal authority to issue a broader set of rules and regulations on Islamic banking.

In the Philippines the Senate approved a bill authorizing the expansion of the Islamic banking system, which shall be under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral Pilipinas and regulated by the Monetary Board. This measure can support families affected by humanitarian crises so that they may access formal banking systems and become more financially secure. Last May was the second anniversary of the Marawi siege; violence and conflict displaced 98% of the total population of the city. Recovery has been slow and full of challenges, particularly for those who could not access financial services. Agencies involved in the rehabilitation of Marawi conflict-affected communities can maximize assistance by considering an alternative financial system such as Islamic finance.