Amando M Tetangco, Jr: Pursuing financial stability thru innovations in
cheque clearing and settlement
Speech by Mr Amando M Tetangco, Jr, Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP, the
central bank of the Philippines), at the Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between
BSP and the Philippine Clearing House Corporation (PCHC) to implement the Check
Imaging Clearing System, Manila, 12 July 2016.
* * *
Introduction
We gather this afternoon to formalize a milestone in Philippine banking. Many may think that
clearing and settlement as a whole is a facet of market operations best left to specialists who
think of floats, talk in timelines and manage queues. This is partially true since this field is
indeed highly specialized. Except perhaps for the brave souls who took on the responsibility
of being on the Inter-Agency Committee on Check Truncation- the very same set of
individuals whom we thank for making this day come to fruition - clearing and settlement
risks are not the discussion one typically enjoys with one's morning coffee, so to speak.
Role of clearing and settlement in a dynamic market
But the truth is the rest of us are able to go on with our business because there is a
functioning clearing and settlement process that operates quietly in the background. Whether
we talk of securities, currencies or cheques, the ability of market stakeholders to settle
obligations and transfer funds invariably depends on an efficient payments and settlements
system.
The essentiality of the payments and settlement infrastructure is well recognized. It is
particularly identified as a key element of what constitutes financial stability. An excellent
example of this thinking is the second principle for financial stability espoused by Garry
Schinasi (2004) where he argues that:1
"... financial stability not only implies that finance adequately fulfills its role in allocating
resources and risks, mobilizing savings, and facilitating wealth accumulation, development,
and growth; it should also imply that the systems of payment throughout the economy
function smoothly (across official and private, retail and wholesale, and formal and informal
payments mechanisms)".
It is therefore clear that the payments and settlement infrastructure plays a critical role in a
dynamic and growing economy. Stakeholders need to be assured that their payment
instructions are faithfully carried out while recipients of the funds must believe that there is
finality in the transfer of such funds. This is a pillar of business operations that fuels the
network of transactions in the real economy. Absent this pillar, stakeholders are literally
forced into bilateral means of settlement which take different forms across different
counterparties.
Challenges in the Philippines
From the BSP's perspective, we have long recognized the importance of a viable payments
and settlement system. Although a Payments Act has yet to be legislated in this country, we
nonetheless established an RTGS system, now known as PHILPaSS, at the turn of the
century to enable efficient settlement of payment obligations in central bank money. For
nearly four decades now, we have also been collaborating with the PCHC in operating a
cheque payment system, allowing both retail and corporate clients the ability to settle
obligations thru a bill of exchange without the need for immediately providing physical cash.
It is perhaps not common knowledge that PCHC processes about 700,000 cheques ever day
with an average value of Php135 billion. Certainly, that is an unthinkable amount of cash to
be carrying around for bilateral and physical settlement if a cheque clearing system was not
in place.
But volumes and values aside, our cheque clearing facility must face the unique challenge of
operating within an archipelagic economy.2 Clearing cheques in a physical manner
necessitates a clearing cycle that is typically two to three days long. To complicate matters
further, not every financial institution is a direct clearing participant and having conduits adds
a layer of time inefficiencies, if not outright costs. Actually, our payment challenge goes
beyond the issues associated with cheques. We should note that in a 2014 study by the
Better than Cash Alliance, only one percent of monthly retail transactions are done in
electronic form. This validates our heavy reliance on cash and cheques in conducting our
business. At a time when technology has become scalable, portable and affordable, this
apparent reluctance to parlay the benefits of technology can only translate to further
inefficiencies via foregone opportunities.
Milestone today
Let me be clear that the BSP recognizes that cheques will probably continue to play an
important role in the country's payment system for the foreseeable future. But it needs to
evolve and leverage on technology to improve its efficiency as a payment instrument.
In signing the Memorandum of Agreement with PCHC today, we are establishing the critical
foundation for the adoption of check truncation technology. Simply put, we are moving from
physical clearing of paper cheques to a system that digitizes those same paper checks to
facilitate their electronic clearing.
Through the Check Image Clearing System (CICS) of the PCHC, all of our cheques are
targeted to be cleared in a fully electronic environment starting January 6, 2017. For those of
us who really are not specialists in this area, if there is one take away from this development,
it has to be the fact that funds will now be made available by next day at the latest.
Cheques we issue to our family, friends and business partners in various parts of the country
will now enjoy near real-time finality of payment. This will have a number of benefits. It will be
good for those receiving funds. It will be good for managing the balances of those who issue
the cheques. It better aligns payments data with money supply aggregates. And since
cheque data are transmitted electronically, we necessarily eliminate transport risks on the
physical cheques. We likewise address consumer protection issues that arise when our
cheques are either pilfered and/or altered to benefit those with ill-motives.
The Journey ahead.
On the whole, ladies and gentlemen, what we formalize today is a win-win for all
stakeholders. It is an important step in that we strengthen our cheque clearing system by
leveraging on the advantages that technology can provide. In the process, there is uniform
handling regardless of whether the issuer is in Metro Manila or other parts of the archipelago.
The settlement leg of this development will certainly still go thru the BSP via PhilPaSS. On
that front, you can expect that the BSP will continue to improve its real time gross settlement
system. You can also expect other payment reforms that ensure financial stability.
Beyond an efficient cheque clearing system, we are committed to promoting the
modernization of our payment system through projects like the National Retail Payment
System (NRPS) and other payments innovation projects to put in place secure, efficient, and
affordable electronic payment platforms to drive the growth of trade and commerce. If you
think about it, we are embarking on an infrastructure initiative no less ambitious than building
roads, bridges, airports, seaports, and telecommunications facilities.
Ladies and gentlemen, we may not all be clearing and settlement specialists but we certainly
are all stakeholders in a vibrant financial market that runs on efficient and secure payment
systems. With this latest development, maybe... just maybe... we are on the road to
including payments and settlement issues in our morning coffee discussions. Congratulations
to all.
Thank you.