Senior officials from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) central banks, together with development partners and private sector leaders, convened on April 9, 2026, in a high-level virtual roundtable to urgently address financial health across the region.
Hosted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the meeting placed sharp focus on strengthening financial resilience, improving measurement frameworks, and tightening consumer protection as digital fraud and scams continue to rise.
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. underscored that financial health is critical to economic stability, stressing that it is not just about access to financial services but about empowering households to manage daily finances, withstand shocks, and plan confidently for the future.
He issued a clear warning that rapid digitalization, while expanding opportunities, is also exposing consumers to greater risks—highlighting the urgent need for stronger safeguards to protect household well-being.
BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat reinforced the call for action, emphasizing that financial health must be embedded in central banking agendas and national strategies. She stressed that close coordination between government and the private sector is essential to turn policy into real, measurable improvements in people’s lives.
The roundtable was held virtually, in line with ASEAN’s shift to online meetings this year due to ongoing energy supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.
Advancing financial health remains a key economic priority for the Philippines as it chairs ASEAN in 2026.
