2025-08-12
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas issued Memorandum No. M-2025-028 to amend the Standard Operating Procedures for Philippine Holidays and Work Suspensions, superseding the December 2023 directive. The revised guidelines simplify operational protocols by mandating that essential central bank functions, such as monetary operations and cash services, continue during holidays unless suspended for safety or infrastructure reasons. The document explicitly defines 'Reserve Days' and outlines the specific responsibilities of financial market infrastructures and industry associations to maintain settlement and trading activities during these periods.
BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR M EMORAN DU M NO. M-2O25-O28 All BSP-supervised Financial Institutions (BSFls) Revised Standard Operating Procedures for Philippine Holidays and Work Suspensions In line with its continuing commitment to uphold the efficient functioning of the country's large-value payment system, to ensure the reliability of currency operations, and to promote the stability of the Philippine financial markets, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hereby issues further amendments to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Philippine Holidays and Work Suspensions (Revised August 2025, Annex A), as prescribed under Appendix 88 of the Manual of Regulations for Banks (MORB) and Appendix Q-5'l of the Manual of Flegulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions (MORNBFI). The SOP has been revised and simplified to reflect the BSP'S enhanced capability to perform essential central bank operations under different scenarios where several work arrangements can be applied. Accordingly, such operations shall continue to be undertaken except during nationwide regular and special nonworking holidays for both the public and private sectors as declared by Malacafiang, orwhen the BSP Governor/Officer-in-Charge suspends operations due to safety concerns, or non-availability of critical utilities, services, and infrastructure, among other reasons. This Memorandum supersedes Memorandum No. M'2O23-O4O dated 22 December2o23. For guidance and immediate compliance. To Subject llL augustzozs / z.-c--- ELI M. REMOLONA,JR. Governor
Standard Operating Procedures for Philippine Holidays and Work Suspensions (Revised August 2cl5) (Appendix ea/Q-sl ) The following arrangements shall be observed on Philippine holidays and work suspensions: l. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) shall conduct essential central bank operations on Philippine holidays, including local holidayst and during government work suspensions, except: a. On nationwide regular and special non-working holidays for both public and private sectors as declared by Malacafrang2 or b. When the Governor/Officer-in-Charge (OlC)3 declares otherwise due to safety risks of BSP personnel, non-availability of critical utilities and services, infrastructure breakdown. or similar circumstances. In such cases, the BSP's Communication Office shall issue the corresponding advisory meant for the general publica while concerned departments/offices shall issue the corresponding advisories meant for supervised institutions and other stakeholders, as much as possible on the day before but no later than 8:OO A.M. of the same day. For suspensions taking effect after 8:OO A.M., announcement shall be made at least one (l ) hour prior to effectivity. 2. The essential central bank operations are as follows: Operations Responsi ble BSP DepartmentflJnit Monetary and FX (USD/pt{P} Operations Trading and Settlement of BSP transactions such as. but not limited to: . Monetary operations o USD/PHP Trading Financial Markets (FM) Preparation of daily Reference Exchange Rate Bulletin (RERB) Peso Real-Time Gross Settlement through PhilPaS9t"" Payments and Settlements Department (PSD) Cash Services [i.e., Currency Deposits and Withdrawals, Cash Service Alliance (CSA), First-level System Administrations, and Check-Clearino Tellerino Transactions6 I BSP Regional Offices and Branches, including the Greater Manila Regional Office (cMRO) ' Flefer to holidays observed only in specific areas, e.9., provinces, cities, or municipalities. 2 As announced in the relevant Proclamation by the Office of the President, published through the Official Gazette or through the Presidential Communications Office or equivalent agency/office through online platforms, traditional media, and other modes/channels of public information dissemination. 3 The Deputy CovernorAector-in-Charge, Regional Operations and Advocacy Sector, shall approve suspension of cash services applicable to specific BSP regional offices or branches. a To be released through the BSP website, official BSP social media accounts, or other similar means or platform. s First-Level System Administration refers to Currency Management System support services 6 Check-Clearing Tellering is offered by GMRO only and this has dependency on the operations of the Philippine Clearing House Corporation (PCHC ).