(Sa Landbank-DBP merger) P5.3-B KADA TAON MATITIPID NG GOBYERNO

IDINEPENSA ni Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno ang panukalang merger ng LandBank of the Philippines at ng Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

Ayon kay Diokno, aalisin nito ang redundancy at inefficiency sa mga operasyon.

Iginiit ni Diokno na suportado ng Department of Finance (DOF) ang hakbang na pagsamahin ang dalawang bangko upang lumikha ng isang government bank.

“The merger will eliminate redundancy and inefficiency in operations. Projected operating cost savings due to the merger could reach at least P5.3 billion per year, or more than P20 billion over the next four years,” ayon kay Diokno.

Sinabi pa ng DOF chief na inaasahang makukumpleto ang final legal merger ng dalawang bangko sa Nobyembre ng kasalukuyang taon.

“Following the approval of the GCG (Governance Commission for Government Owned or Controlled Corporations), we now await the issuance of an Executive Order sometime this month,” pahayag ni Diokno.

“There will be a joint crafting and approval of the Operational Integration Plan in September, followed by the approval of the Monetary Board in October, before the final legal merger between Landbank and DBP by November,” aniya.

Sinabi ni Diokno na ang consolidated bank ay magiging nasa pinakamagandang posisyon para magserbisyo bilang nag-iisang authorized government depository bank para sa lahat ng National Government agencies, Government Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), government instrumentalities, at local government units (LGUs).

Nauna nang sinabi ng DOF na ang consolidated bank ay magkakaroon ng tinatayang asset na PHP4.18 trillion, at deposit base na nagkakahalaga ng PHP3.59 trillion.

Matapos ang merger, ang Landbank ang magiging surviving entity dahil sa mas mataas na authorized capital stock nito na PHP800 billion.

Sa isyu ng retrenchments bunga ng merger, tiniyak ni Diokno na mahigpit silang makikipag-ugnayan sa dalawang bangko “to ensure that personnel decisions are consistent with our objective to enhance the bank’s efficiency and effectiveness.”

“It is important that those who will be separated receive a fair package of benefits in recognition of their valuable service to the government,” aniya.

PNA