is the institutionalization of a system of independent securities custodians. this is primarily aimed at protecting investors from fraudulent acts of multiple securities sales and to discourage undocumented transactions. more positively, the custodian system will support the eventual growth of securities borrowing and lending that will help promote market liquidity. we have systematically tightened prudential and risk management standards. this will definitely strengthen the banking system. in the process, risk - based capital requirements based on the basle framework have stimulated the issuance of tier 2 subordinated debt as part of the recapitalization process. down the road, as the stock market recovers, banks should be issuing more equity to bolster tier 1 capital. we intend to bring the banking system in compliance with basle 2 by 2007. in preparation, we are now requiring universal and commercial banks to formally set up a minimum internal credit risk rating system for the underwriting and ongoing administration of corporate credit exposures. this is embodied in circular no. 439 which also requires that in rating corporate clients, banks use only financial statements audited by sec - accredited external auditors. moreover, in quick succession, we have issued tougher standards on the management of large exposures, on single borrower limits, and on dosri lending. these will likely spur corporate borrowers to diversify their funding sources beyond the usual friendly banks and in the direction of the capital market. but not all regulatory initiatives have been towards tightening. we have also introduced changes to remove obstacles to capital market development and create opportunities for banks with respect to capital market related business. these include selective lowering of reserve requirements for repo transactions that meet certain standards as well as for other financial products. over the medium - term, we hope to effect a phased generalized lowering of reserve requirements to be more competitive with low reserve requirement regimes found in most other countries. we have likewise allowed the introduction of new and innovative financial instruments in the domestic market, including complex structured products under appropriate regulatory arrangements. recently, we have launched an initiative to reform the common trust fund ( ctf ) and replace it with a better product called the unit investment trust fund ( uitf ). it will be better in the sense that its assets will be marked - to - market daily so that investors will not be misled as to the real performance of their investments. these should avoid any residual risks to the bank as asset manager. as an investment product, uitfs will be more competitive as it will

rafael buenaventura : laying the foundation for a progressive financial system speech by mr rafael buenaventura, governor of bangko sentral ng pilipinas ( central bank of the philippines ), at the asset forum, asean capital markets forum series, makati city, 20 october 2004. * * * ladies and gentlemen, good morning. introduction we are indebted to the asset magazine, headed by its dynamic editor - in - chief, mr.. danny yu, for organizing this forum on philippine capital markets. this is an issue that should be high in our agenda for reform. clearly it is critical for the government to immediately deal with a looming fiscal crisis but that should not distract us from the equally important task of accelerating the development of the domestic capital market. indeed, these two reforms are closely linked. fiscal stability is an important precondition to financial system stability. a well developed capital market enhances flexibility in fiscal management. bsp agenda the bsp, as the monetary authority and supervisor of the banking system, is firmly committed to the prioritization of domestic capital market development. first, well - functioning financial markets support the more effective conduct of monetary policy that is key to achievement of price stability. second, a robust domestic capital market complements the banking system in financial intermediation and can even relieve pressure especially during times of crises by providing alternative means of financing to the economy. third, the banking system has greater flexibility in managing and re - distributing its risks via the capital market particularly through securitization and hedging. an even more basic reason is the need to improve on the current low domestic saving rate. according to comparative data from adb as of 2003, the gross domestic saving rate in the philippines was only 20. 1 % of gdp compared with hong kong ( 31. 6 % ), thailand ( 33. 1 % ), malaysia ( 42. 9 % ) and singapore ( 46. 7 % ). even indonesia is slightly higher at 21. 5 %. a low domestic saving rate is a basic constraint to achieving higher levels of investment needed to support a faster pace of economic growth. to promote savings, the philippine financial market needs to offer a broader array of financial instruments beyond bank deposits and equity. we are particularly keen on seeing the faster development of the domestic debt market. as of 2003, total outstanding domestic bonds accounted for just around 40 percent of gdp, compared with 85 percent for bank assets and 69 percent for equity. most of these