Title
Amendment to Single Borrower Limits for PPP Loans
Law
Bsp Circular No. 779
Decision Date
Jan 9, 2013
BSP Circular No. 779 amends regulations to allow banks and quasi-banks to increase their credit exposure limits to a single borrower by an additional 25% of their net worth for infrastructure and development projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Program, subject to specific conditions and a six-year timeframe.

Law Summary

Application to Non-Bank Financial Institutions (Quasi-Banks)

  • Similar provisions apply to quasi-banks regarding credit exposure limits to a single borrower.
  • The total allowable increase is also 25% of the quasi-bank’s net worth for loans, credit accommodations, and guarantees related to PPP infrastructure or development projects.
  • Certification by the Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning is also required for these exposures.
  • The exposure limits and time frame (6 years from December 28, 2010) mirror those applicable to banks.
  • Quasi-banks must also consider credit risk concentration from PPP projects in their internal capital adequacy assessment.
  • Contracted amounts can be reduced but not increased after the six-year period.

Implementation and Effectivity

  • The Circular was issued pursuant to Monetary Board Resolution No. 2049 dated December 6, 2012.
  • The amendment applies both to the Manual of Regulations for Banks (MORB) and the Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions (MORNBFI).
  • The regulations took effect fifteen calendar days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

Key Legal Concepts and Implications

  • Credit exposure limits help manage credit risk by capping bank and quasi-bank lending to single borrowers.
  • The special allowance promotes private sector participation in government infrastructure projects through the PPP Program.
  • Certification by the Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning ensures projects qualify under the designated development programs.
  • Banks and quasi-banks are mandated to incorporate PPP-related exposures into their risk-based capital assessments, fostering prudent risk management.
  • The time-limited increase balances the promotion of infrastructure financing with the need to control long-term credit risk concentrations.

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