MANILA — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) convened its first-ever Central Banking Symposium on 24 November 2025 in Panglao, Bohol, bringing together policymakers, economists, and financial industry leaders to discuss current challenges in monetary policy.

BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona said the symposium’s theme, “Anchoring Policy in an Era of Shocks,” reflects the difficulty central banks face in stabilizing economies amid global uncertainties. “As the Governor illustrated, ‘Fisherfolk say that when strong currents shift, the first thing to check is the anchor. If the anchor holds, you will be okay,’” the BSP said.

Former Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, who delivered the keynote address, emphasized that central banking must maintain stability despite unpredictable global events. “In this era of unprecedented shocks, stability requires that we also be robust. To put it simply, robust is the new boring,” he said.

Panel discussions were led by BSP Deputy Governor Zeno Ronald R. Abenoja, University of the Philippines Professor Emeritus Dante B. Canlas, and ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office Philippine country economist Andrew Tsang.

The forum brought together Monetary Board members, BSP senior officials, banking sector leaders, financial market groups, economists from academia and government agencies, and members of the BSP press corps.

Sessions tackled inflation expectations among Filipino households, the link between deposit behavior and financial stability, and the role of the exchange rate in monetary policy.

The BSP said the annual symposium aims to deepen public and sector-wide understanding of macro-financial issues and support evidence-based policymaking in the country.