IslamicFinance.de

When asked about the plans of the central bank on Al-Amanah Bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. said they found it best to leave it to the Legislative to decide how the government will go about the planned sale, as well as on how the state will accommodate Islamic-based banking activities. BSP has led the drafting of a law amending AIIB charter and creating an Islamic banking system. The bill thereon which has been filed in the House of Representatives aims to create an expanded Islamic banking system and address constraints including the issues on taxation. Currently, Al-Amanah Bank is the first and only Islamic bank authorized to practice Islamic banking in the country.

The house of Representatives has started discussing a proposal to allow other Islamic banks to operate in the Philippines, in an attempt to put it at the same level as commercial banks. The House committee on banks and financial intermediaries yesterday took up a proposal amending the charter of the Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank, which is currently the only Islamic bank in the country. House Bill 5989 seeks to amend Republic Act 6848 by breaking the monopoly of Al-Amanah bank, which would give the green light for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to authorize new entities to come in. The Al-Amanah bank remains a fully owned subsidiary of the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas gave its approval to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for selling the latter's stake in the Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines (Al-Amanah). The approval was issued on 20th of September. The next step is to obtain the approval of the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG). After that it will be possible to proceed with the bidding process for its 99.88% stake in the country’s only Islamic bank.

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