(PH, Singapore central banks lumagda sa kasunduan) DIGITAL PAYMENTS COOPERATION PALALAKASIN

LUMAGDA kamakailan ang mga central bank ng Pilipinas at  Singapore sa isang kasunduan na magpapalakas sa cross-border digital payments sa Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

Sa isang statemen, sinabi ng digitalization advocacy group Digital Pilipinas na nilagdaan ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) at ng Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) ang expanded Fintech Innovation Function Cooperation Agreement  noong nakaraang linggo.

Ang kasunduan ay pinirmahan nina BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno at MAS Managing Director Ravi Menon sa World Fintech Festival Philippines (WFF) 2021-Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF).

Kabilang sa mahalagang nilalaman ng kasunduan ang pagkakaugnay ng QR at real-time payment systems ng dalawang bansa, na naglalayong magkaloob ng financial inclusivity sa overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“The BSP is taking the initial step in linking the Philippine payment system with those of our ASEAN neighbors, beginning with Singapore,” pahayag ni Diokno sa isang statement matapos ang signing ceremony.

“The agreement will enhance safe, efficient cross-border payments through smoother and seamless international fund transfers,” dagdag pa niya.

Sa kanyang panig, sinabi ni Menon na ang kasunduan ay isang kongkretong hakbang tungo sa vision ng isang “ASEAN network of interconnected real-time payment systems.”

Inilarawan naman ni Amor Maclang, Digital Pilipinas convenor, ang BSP-MAS Cooperation Agreement bilang “whole-of-society approach in solving today’s and tomorrow’s technological needs.”

“Digital Pilipinas will continue to be at the service of both the BSP and MAS as this agreement is a very important pillar in teching up our country,” ani Maclang.