CREATE norms for tax perks favor activities high on value chain

June 24, 2021 | 9:40 pm

PROJECTS that improve Philippine competitiveness as an investment destination and improve the country’s ability to produce high-end products have been declared priorities for the grant of investment, according to the implementing rules of the law that rationalized incentives.

Implementing rules and regulations (IRR) released Thursday outlined the investment perks for key industries under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act.

The IRR said industries and projects listed under the Strategic Industries Priorities Plan (SIPP) have first call on incentives eligibility, with the authorities granting perks based on their assessment of long-term growth potential and national interest.

Projects that meet any of a set of 10 criteria could be eligible, including those that provide a substantial amount of investment, job creation, considerable net exports, and the use of technology that is new to the Philippines.

“Processes and innovation, including urban planning and development methods, that will lead towards the attainment of the sustainable development goals, shall include, but not be limited to, adoption of adequate environmental protection systems and sustainability strategies,” it said.

Eligible projects could also address supply chain gaps, improve food security, and promote regional and global operations.

Projects may also “promote market competitiveness or enhance the country’s competitiveness as an investment destination” and improve the capabilities of Filipino enterprises and professionals to produce sophisticated products and services.

Only projects listed in the SIPP will be considered. The 2020 investment priorities plan is the provisional list for sectors qualified to receive such incentives from the government while the SIPP is being developed.

Industries eligible for incentives have been classified into three tiers, with tier III or projects for science and technology development receiving incentives with the longest terms.

The IRR classified import-substituting industries like crude oil refining as tier II. The tier includes activities for producing parts not locally made but needed in industrial development. Tier I activities include those that create jobs and take place in sectors that have experienced market failure, which has rendered domestic producers unable to provide basic goods and services.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) recently raised possible problems its locators might encounter with new import tax rules under the new IRR. Investors usually expect the duty-free importation of raw materials, but the agency said that it expected new limitations on the scope of exemptions.

The IRR said that the duty exemption applies to the importation of capital equipment, raw materials, spare parts, and accessories directly and exclusively used in the registered projects. They must be items that are not manufactured domestically in sufficient quantity and at reasonable prices. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Energy dep’t says 15 sites identified with potential to host future nuclear facilities

June 24, 2021 | 9:37 pm

THE Department of Energy (DoE) has identified 15 sites as possible locations for nuclear power generating plants, subject to further evaluation of their potential to meet international norms for such facilities.

“We have identified 15 sites all over the country, but that’s just the first stage… they will be subjected to rigorous evaluation, in which experts, including those from the International Atomic Energy Agency and (from) all over the world will be consulted,” DoE Assistant Secretary Gerardo D. Erguiza, Jr. said during PTV4’s Laging Handa briefing Thursday.

He said the process will be “transparent and all problems will be addressed.”

“We have stated in the past that we will meticulously look at (injecting nuclear power into the energy mix),” he added.

DoE Spokesman Felix William B. Fuentebella said the department is looking at using renewable energy, nuclear, and hydrogen-based power as alternatives to conventional fuels in the event of a supply disruption affecting traditional power sources.

In July, President Rodrigo R. Duterte created an interagency body tasked with conducting a study on adopting a National Position on a Nuclear Energy Program (NEP). The committee submitted its recommendations in December.

On Thursday, Mr. Erguiza described nuclear as a “good source of stable, secure and reliable power,” which some advanced countries depend on.

Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Executive Director Carlo A. Arcilla has said that nuclear holds the potential to address baseload power needs. The PNRI is part of the NEP Inter-agency Committee.

Last month, the DoE and PNRI rolled out an educational campaign on nuclear science and technology to broaden public awareness and improve public perception of the power source. — Angelica Y. Yang

Philippines to exit OECD watch list for ‘harmful’ tax policy

June 24, 2021 | 9:27 pm

THE PHILIPPINES will exit a watch list maintained by developed countries next year which had flagged its preferential tax scheme for regional operating headquarters (ROHQs) of multinational companies, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.

The country will be removed from the list of “harmful tax regimes” by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) starting next year, the DoF said.

In a statement issued Thursday, Undersecretary Antonette C. Tionko said the OECD agreed to a Philippine appeal to characterize the scheme as “potentially harmful but not actually harmful” until the end of 2021.

The recently-signed Republic Act No. 11534 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act will effectively remove the 10% preferential tax rate next year, which persuaded the OECD to remove it from the classification, known as the Forum on Harmful Tax Practices (FHTP), beginning Jan. 1, Ms. Tionko said.

The FHTP was created in 1998 to assess preferential tax schemes and identify those that could be harmful.

The Philippines was flagged for the ROHQ preferential tax, which the OECD said gives foreign companies an advantage over domestic taxpayers. Those benefitting from the perk are not also required to provide evidence of how they are performing.

The CREATE law will require ROHQs to pay the regular 25% corporate income tax rate starting next year, in the absence of a grandfather clause.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue estimates that the number of entities availing of the ROHQ regime has been on the downtrend since 2018, with only one new applicant in 2019, she said.

Ms. Tionko said this development will contribute to the Philippines’ readiness to join the Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS).

“(BEPS identifies) tax planning strategies that exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules to artificially shift profits to low or no-tax locations where there is little or no economic activity,” she said.

She added that the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank have granted technical assistance to help the Philippines meet the minimum requirements to join the BEPS. — Beatrice M. Laforga

NEA tells co-ops to develop capacity for emergencies

June 24, 2021 | 9:26 pm

THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) said Thursday that electric cooperatives (ECs) need to develop their own emergency generation capacity to serve as standby power when needed.

“ECs should be aggressive in as far as developing, installing, and operating their own embedded power generation, not only to meet peak electricity demand but to provide standby or emergency power during calamities,” NEA Administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong said in a statement.

Such projects can also mitigate power supply shortages in the EC coverage areas, he added.

Mr. Masongsong directed the NEA’s Total Electrification and Renewable Energy Development department to help ECs launch their own embedded power generation projects.

He added that ECs should also explore options in renewable energy (RE) to meet demand in their respective franchise areas.

In the same statement, the NEA announced it has completed feasibility studies related to the hybridization of existing diesel power plants with RE and battery energy storage systems in North and West Samar.

At present, it is studying the possibility of establishing a hybrid mini-grid system powered by RE in six off-grid areas.

The NEA earlier reported that ECs connected 148,792 new power consumers in the first quarter, up 11% from a year earlier. The agency has a target of 400,000 for the year.

As of June 16, the nationwide electrification rate was 90% with 14.45 million consumers covered within the franchise areas of 121 ECs. — Angelica Y. Yang

BIR says list of penalties for violating fuel marking rules highlights TRAIN changes

June 24, 2021 | 9:25 pm

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it retained the maximum sanction of a P10-million fine and license revocation for those found violating the fuel marking program’s rules, but introduced criminal penalties in a new issuance that was released to highlight the new regime defined by a recent tax-reform law.

The BIR issued Revenue Regulations No. 13-2021 Thursday on fuel-related tax evasion and faking of receipts.

While the fines were not revised, BIR Deputy Commissioner Marissa O. Cabreros said the issuance is intended more to remind taxpayers of the new items introduced by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, particularly criminal sanctions for violations of the fuel marking program.

Republic Act No. 10963 or TRAIN law of 2018, authorized a fuel marking program involving the injection of a special dye into fuel shipments on which tax has been paid, the absence of which is deemed prima facie evidence that the fuel was smuggled.

The BIR said those who sell, trade, deliver or transport unmarked fuel are subject to a fine of P2.5 million on first offense, P5 million on second and P10 million on third plus license revocation.

Businesses found to have tampered with the official fuel marking dye by either removing the agent or diluting the volume could face similar penalties.

Producing, importing, selling and using fuel markers that are either unauthorized or fake also carry penalties of P1 million to P5 million and 4-8 years’ imprisonment.

The injection of fake additive or chemical components also entails a fine of P5 million to P10 million and imprisonment of 4-8 years.

Person involved in packaging and labeling such fake dyes and those trying to conceal unpaid tax through fraud, destruction of documents and misdeclaration, will also be subject to fines of P1 million to P5 million and 4-8 years’ imprisonment.

The BIR reiterated that tax evaders violating any item of the Tax Code are liable for up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of P10 million in fines.

Businesses using unauthorized or fake receipts or those with incomplete details on their invoices can also be fined P500,000 to P10 million and face 6-10 years’ imprisonment. — Beatrice M. Laforga

IPOPHL in tie-up with int’l trademark group

June 24, 2021 | 9:24 pm

THE intellectual property office said it has signed an agreement with an international trademark group to improve its counterfeit evaluation efforts.

International Trademark Association (INTA) through a memorandum of understanding signed on June 22 will help Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) examiners evaluate emerging products and designs.

The international group will help IPOPHL assess trademarks, certification marks, non-traditional marks, and popular marks to prevent confusion in evaluating similar marks.

Both groups will also work on improving counterfeit seizures and coordination between government and brand owners to intercept counterfeit sales, IPOPHL said in a statement Thursday.

They will also roll out intellectual property awareness programs directed at the youth and small businesses looking for cost-effective brand management.

“Our young people are a key audience in building a nationwide culture of respect for intellectual property (IP). We hope we can connect with the youth effectively and in a way that would capture their interest in creativity, innovation and all things IP,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said.

The partnership will in force until the end of 2022.

INTA is a global association of 7,200 band owners and professionals promoting wider use of trademark protection.

Intellectual property rights violations reports sent to IPOPHL spiked during the lockdown last year, with a majority of complaints related to piracy and counterfeiting. Most of the violations, the agency said, are done online. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Q1 outputs for mango, pineapple and banana rise; calamansi down

June 24, 2021 | 9:24 pm

PRODUCTION of mango, pineapple, and banana rose in the first quarter while that of calamansi declined, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The PSA said in its major fruit crops quarterly bulletin that mango production during the quarter rose 4.1% year on year to 97,898.58 metric tons (MT), mainly of the carabao mango variety. The Ilocos Region was the top producer with 47.8% of the total, followed by Central Luzon with 25.9% and Western Visayas with 6.3%.

Pineapple production rose 5.7% to 662,500.29 MT, led by Northern Mindanao, which accounted for 57.7% of total production, followed by Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) with 33%.

Banana production rose 1% to 2.08 million MT, with the Cavendish variety, the main type for export markets, accounting for 55.5%, followed by Saba, a cooking banana, at 25.6%. Davao Region was the top region with 35.6% of the harvest, followed by Northern Mindanao at 26.2%.

Calamansi production fell 1.6% to 13,103.28 MT. Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) accounted for 18.4% of the harvest, followed by Central Luzon with 16.3% and Davao Region 13.2%.

The PSA announced in May that the value of production of the overall Philippine agriculture sector declined 3.3% during the first quarter of 2021.

The Agriculture department has said that it is targeting 2.5% growth for the agriculture sector in 2021. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

BARMM not required to comply with devolution rules, DBM says

June 24, 2021 | 9:20 pm

THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is not required to comply with the National Government’s devolution of functions to local governments to prevent disrupting the region’s transition phase, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

Local government units (LGUs) of the Bangsamoro government are not required to follow Executive Order (EO) No. 138, which will transfer some functions of the National Government to LGUs in exchange for a larger share of National Government revenue following the Supreme Court’s (SC) Mandanas ruling, according to Rowena M. Marte, supervising budget and management specialist at the DBM.

“Our stance on the application of the EO is that it is not mandatory on (BARMM’S) part to comply with EO and since the EO will not apply for the implementation of the same will not affect the BARMM government and its devolution of functions to its constituent LGUs,” Ms. Marte said at a forum organized by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) on Thursday.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued EO 138 early this month to fully devolve certain functions of the National Government to LGUs by the end of 2024. Agencies and LGUs are required to prepare their own devolution transition plans within four months to clarify the division of labor between national and local entities, and set a timetable for devolution.

“We considered to not include the BARMM in the devolution efforts because of two reasons: first, the BARMM is in a period of transition, and the devolution efforts being done by the National Government might in a way disrupt its process and second, the BARMM government will be promulgating its own local government code,” Ms. Marte added.

She said the decision was also in line with the Bangsamoro government’s position that the devolution should not weaken its powers under the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

The DBM estimated that LGUs, including those in the BARMM, will receive P959 billion in Internal Revenue Allotment funds next year, with P326.1 billion going to municipalities, P220.58 billion to cities and provinces; and P191.8 billion to barangays.

LGUs are required to allot at least 20% of their national tax allotments (NTAs) for development projects.

The SC’s ruling on the petition by Batangas Governor and former Representative Hermilando I. Mandanas increased the LGU share of national taxes by including Customs collections in the pool of funds.

The government responded to the ruling by devolving more functions to LGUs starting next year, to compensate for the lost revenue.

The World Bank warned that bigger NTAs for local governments may result in greater underspending if the limited capacity of LGUs to implement projects is not improved.

Unequal fiscal allocations among LGUs will also likely persist despite the increased budgets, because the Mandanas ruling does not address the distribution formula for allocations to high- and low-income LGUs. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Philippine deaths from coronavirus top 24,000

June 24, 2021 | 9:01 pm

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

PHILIPPINE deaths from the coronavirus breached 24,000 on Thursday, as Health authorities reported 6,043 more infections to 1.38 million.

The death toll rose by 108 to 24,036, while recoveries increased by 4,486 to 1.3 million, the Department of Health (DoH) said in a bulletin.

There were 51,410 active cases, 1.4% of which were critical, 90.6% were mild, 4.5% did not show symptoms, 2% were severe and 1.44% were moderate.

Fifteen duplicates had been removed from the tally, nine of which were tagged as recoveries, the agency said.

A total of 44 recoveries were reclassified as active cases, while 61 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths. One laboratory failed to submit data on June 22, it added.

About 13.7 million Filipinos have been tested for the coronavirus as of June 22, according to DoH’s tracker website.

The coronavirus has sickened about 180.4 million and killed 3.9 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization.

About 165.1 million people have recovered, it said.

Meanwhile, the government on Thursday took delivery of about two million more CoronaVac doses from China, according to the presidential palace.

Of the total, about 1.6 million doses were bought by the National Government, while the rest were ordered by Ip Biotech, Inc. for the local government of Manila, presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing

More than 8.9 million doses of coronavirus vaccines have been given out as of June 22, 6.6 million of which were first doses, he said.

More than a million health workers were already fully vaccinated, Mr. Roque said.

Mr. Roque said more than 589,000 seniors and about 565,000 seriously ill people had also been fully vaccinated. More than 8,600 essential workers have received their second dose.

Meanwhile, the cities of Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio, Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Tuguegarao, General Santos, Naga and Legaspi would be prioritized for vaccines, he said.

The decision came due to rising infections there, their being highly urbanized and their contribution to economic output, he added. Mr. Roque said the government would hire more contact tracers amid the threat of a more contagious coronavirus variant first detected in India.

Mr. Roque said President Rodrigo R. Duterte might discuss the hiring at a meeting with key lawmakers regarding the country’s second stimulus law.

He earlier said contact-tracing had been the weakest point in the government’s pandemic response.

Meanwhile, the salary increase of nurses would probably be financed by the government’s second stimulus fund or by a pandemic measure that is yet to be legislated, Mr. Roque said.

A group of Filipino nurses earlier asked the government to use unspent funds under the second stimulus package for their wage increase.

Under the law the minimum base pay of nurses working in government hospitals and health institutions should start at P31,545 a month.

The government would likely heed the call of the nurses, Mr. Roque said, citing Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea’s June 1 memo.

“It could be a supplemental budget under Bayanihan III or through further realignment of Bayanihan II,” he said. “It is up to Congress since they have plenary power of legislation.”

The palace official earlier said more than P18 billion from Bayanihan II had not been used, more than nine months since the second stimulus package was signed. The law expires on June 30.

Mr. Roque on June 8 said there might not be enough money to fund the salary increase of nurses.

Mr. Duterte was set to meet with key legislators on Thursday to discuss a proposal to extend the validity the second stimulus law. A proposal for a third stimulus package would also be discussed, he said.

The House of Representatives on June 1 approved the proposed P401-billion Bayanihan III law, which seeks to boost the country’s pandemic response. — with Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Fisherfolk urge navy to drive away China ships in disputed sea

June 24, 2021 | 9:01 pm

Chinese-ship-04132021-PHLCOASTGUARD — PHIL COAST GUARD

A GROUP of fishers on Thursday asked the Philippine government to send its navy to drive away Chinese vessels in the South China Sea within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

“It is without a doubt that the vessels detected to be lingering in our territory are Chinese-owned,” Fernando L. Hicap, national chairman of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in an e-mailed statement.

China has been unnecessarily occupying areas of the sea that are part of Philippine territory, the fisherfolk said. “They may be part of the 220 Chinese vessels spotted in Julian Felipe Reef last March.”

US-based geospatial intelligence firm Simularity said in a report that ships spotted within the Philippine economic zone from mid-May to June 17 had risen to 238 from 129.

It added that 236 ships had been spotted at Union Banks — a large atoll in the Spratly Islands — while 71 vessels were docked near Tizard Bank. Eleven ships were also located near Thitu Island.

Mr. Hicap said the Philippine Navy and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources should look into reports about the growing presence of foreign vessels in Philippine waters.

He also criticized maritime authorities’ failure to prevent the entry of foreign vessels.

Mr. Hicap accused the government of kowtowing to foreign vessels that enter and exploit the country’s marine resources.

“Our maritime authorities seem to be sleeping in oblivion, while foreign vessels are rampantly entering our territorial waters for unspecified yet alarming reasons,” he said. Maritime authorities should act decisively by driving these vessels away, he added.

“We demand that these vessels be urgently expelled from our waters as they have been occupying the traditional fishing grounds of our fisherfolk,” he added.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier said Filipino fishermen have continued to fish in the South China Sea due to heightened Philippine government presence.

The Fisheries bureau said 108 commercial fishing vessels from Bataan and Zambales, 20 from Pangasinan, 19 from Palawan and two from Occidental Mindoro have been fishing in the area since January.

It also said five monitoring, control and surveillance vessels and a multi-mission offshore vessel had been deployed in the Spratlys, while another surveillance vessel had been sent to the Scarborough Shoal area to protect Filipino fishermen.

The Philippines has filed several diplomatic protests against China due to its intensified presence in the disputed area.

China refuses to honor an arbitral ruling in 2016 that rejected its claim to more than 80% of the South China Sea based on a 1940s nine-dash map.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. on Wednesday rejected attempts to undermine the 2016 decision by the international court

The arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines in the sea dispute is final, he said on the fifth anniversary of the ruling.

Mr. Locsin said the arbitral award “was given to a set of maritime circumstances that would be as true in our waters as in others.”

Mr. Locsin said that the arbitral award “became and continues to be a milestone in the corpus of international law.”

The jurisprudence is a Philippine gift to other countries and “benefits the world across the board.” Mr. Locsin said the country is committed to having a peaceful South China Sea. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Peso rebounds ahead of BSP decision, US data

June 24, 2021 | 9:00 pm

THE PESO strengthened versus the greenback on Thursday on expectations that the central bank would keep rates at record lows and ahead of the release of US jobs data.

The local unit closed at P48.735 per dollar yesterday, gaining seven centavos from its P48.805 finish on Wednesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

The peso started Thursday’s trading at P48.755 versus the dollar. Its weakest showing was at P48.92, while its intraday best was its closing level of P48.735.

Dollars exchanged decreased to $1.005 billion on Thursday from $1.103 billion on Wednesday.

The peso strengthened ahead of the close of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policy meeting on Thursday, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said.

After the market’s close, BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said in an online briefing that the Monetary Board kept the key policy rate at a record low of 2% at yesterday’s meeting to support an economy that continues to face uncertainties even while already showing early signs of recovery.

“On balance, the expected path of inflation and downside risks to domestic economic growth warrant keeping monetary policy settings unchanged,” Mr. Diokno said in an online briefing.

“The Monetary Board believes that sustained monetary policy support for domestic demand should help the economic recovery gain more traction, especially as risk aversion continues to temper credit activity despite ample liquidity in the financial system,” he added.

Meanwhile, a trader said the peso climbed as investors expect improvement in the US labor market. Initial jobless claims data were scheduled to be reported by the US Labor Department on Thursday.

For Friday, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P48.65 to P48.85 per dollar, while the trader expects the local unit to move within the P48.70 to P48.85 band. — L.W.T. Noble

Stock index declines in the absence of catalysts

June 24, 2021 | 9:00 pm

PHILIPPINE shares declined on Thursday amid a lack of catalysts and as investors continue to monitor the country’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) lost 32.41 points or 0.46% to close at 6,886 on Thursday, while the all shares index went down by 3.70 points or 0.08% to 4,199.89.

“The market traded flat for most of the session on lack of catalysts,” AB Capital Securities, Inc. Junior Equity Analyst Lance U. Soledad said in a Viber message.

“The market ended lower as traders sold shares during the last minute of trading, after two consecutive days of rallying up to the 6,900 level,” Timson Securities, Inc. Trader Darren Blaine T. Pangan said in a separate Viber message.

“Investors may be assessing the COVID-19 situation, and are waiting for signs that the currently enforced lockdown measures will be relaxed in the coming weeks,” he added.

Majority of sectoral indices closed in the red on Thursday except for industrials, which gained 25.72 points or 0.27% to 9,505.06; and financials, which rose by 3.26 points or 0.21% to end at 1,491.35.

Meanwhile, mining and oil declined by 113.25 points or 1.21% to 9,226.95; holding firms went down by 57.11 points or 0.82% to 6,865.43; services shed 12.44 points or 0.79% to 1,561.66; and property lost 18.55 points or 0.54% to end at 3,393.63.

Value turnover inched up to P6.48 billion with 4.36 billion issues traded on Thursday, from the P6.14 billion with 4.2 billion shares switched hands on Wednesday.

Decliners narrowly beat advancers, 100 against 97, while 52 names remained unchanged.

Net foreign selling slowed to P912.22 million on Thursday from the P1.44 billion logged in the previous day.

AB Capital Securities’ Mr. Soledad said catalysts for Friday’s trading will be the results of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) monetary policy meeting on Thursday.

He said he expects the index to trade between 6,800 and 7,000, while Timson Securities’ Mr. Pangan forecasts the market to finish between 6,760 to 7,080.

The BSP announced after the stock market’s close that its Monetary Board decided to maintain the interest rate on the central bank’s overnight reverse repurchase facility at its record low of 2%, as expected. The interest rates on its overnight deposit and lending facilities were likewise kept at 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively.

The central bank said it kept borrowing costs steady amid lingering economic risks.

“On balance, the expected path of inflation and downside risks to domestic economic growth warrant keeping monetary policy settings unchanged. The Monetary Board believes that sustained monetary policy support for domestic demand should help the economic recovery gain more traction, especially as risk aversion continues to temper credit activity despite ample liquidity in the financial system,” it said. — K.C.G. Valmonte