Monetary Regulation
In the first 10 months of 2018, average lending rates ranged between 4.1% to 7.6%, compared to average lending rates that ranged between 4.1% to 6.6% in the first 10 months of 2017.
In November 2018, the Monetary Board decided to increase the RRP rate to 4.75% and the RP rate to 7.75%, citing that inflation expectations remained high and wage pressures continued to drive price development.
The Philippine Financial System
Composition
As of October 31, 2018, the total resources of the Philippine financial system were ₱20,263.6 billion, an increase of 10.2% from the ₱18,394.9 billion recorded as of October 31, 2017. The increase was driven by the increase in the total resources of universal and commercial banks by 12.7% from ₱13,520.4 billion recorded as of October 31, 2017, to ₱15,241.9 billion recorded as of October 31, 2018, and the increase in the resources of thrift banks by 4.3% from ₱1,199.5 billion recorded as of October 31, 2017, to ₱1,251.7 billion recorded as of October 31, 2018. The resources of rural banks increased by 1.9% from ₱256.5 billion recorded as of October 31, 2017 to ₱261.5 billion recorded as of October 31, 2018. The resources of non-bank financial institutions also increased by 2.6% from ₱3,418.5 trillion recorded as of October 31, 2017 to ₱3,508.4 billion recorded as of October 31, 2018.
Structure of the Financial System
As of October 31, 2018, the total outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks increased by 17.9% from ₱7,019.3 billion recorded as of October 31, 2017 to ₱8,278.8 billion recorded as of October 31, 2018. The increase in total outstanding loans was primarily driven by an increase of 19.8% in loans to the wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles sector, from ₱924.6 billion recorded as of October 31, 2017 to ₱1,107.7 billion recorded as of October 31, 2018, an increase of 15.4% in loans to the real estate activities sector, from ₱1,173.4 billion recorded as of October 31, 2017 to ₱1,354.2 billion recorded as of October 31, 2018, and an increase of 20.7% in loans to the manufacturing sector from ₱873.6 billion recorded as of October 31, 2017 to ₱1,054.3 billion recorded as of October 31, 2018. Other loans, including loans to the financial and insurance activities sector, loans to the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply sector and loans to the construction sector, also increased by 31.9%, 11.9% and 39.2%, respectively. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of 12.1% in loans to others sector from ₱14.2 billion recorded as of October 31, 2017 to ₱12.5 billion recorded as of October 31, 2018.
Recent Financial System Developments
As of October 31, 2018, according to preliminary data, the Philippine banking system recorded a 17.0% increase in total loan portfolio and a 9.0% increase in deposit liabilities, compared with figures recorded as of October 31, 2017.
For the first nine months of 2018, the Philippine banks registered net profit of ₱131.5 billion, which represented an increase of 7.9% over net profit of ₱121.9 billion for the same period in 2017.
Non-Performing Loans
As of October 31, 2018, according to the preliminary data, the gross non-performing loan ratio for universal and commercial banks was 1.3%, compared with 1.2% recorded as of December 31, 2017. Gross non-performing loans, calculated pursuant to BSP Circular No. 772, increased by 17.4% to ₱114.5 billion as of October 31, 2018 from the ₱97.5 billion recorded as of December 31, 2017 primarily due to declining asset quality. The total loan portfolio increased by 10.9% to ₱8,721.4 billion as of October 31, 2018 from the ₱7,867.1 billion recorded as of
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