MANILA, Philippines – Nanawagan si Senador Risa Hontiveros na muling busisiin ang Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) kasabay ng pagkwestyon sa “its usefulness and timeliness in a time of economic storms.”
Umapela nitong Sabado, Disyembre 28, si Hontiveros kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na tigilan na ang pagdaragdag ng kapital sa MIF at sa halip ay isaprayoridad ang kapitalisasyon ng Landbank of the Philippines at Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
Sa pahayag, nagbabala si Hontiveros sa Palasyo na “siphoning billions of pesos in capital from Landbank and DBP into the MIF has left the nation’s economy less prepared to deal with looming economic storms.”
“Using an estimated P75 billion from state banks as capital infusion for the untested MIF is both ill-timed and counterproductive when the Philippines should instead be preparing for imminent economic disruptions, such as protectionist policies of the United States under the second Trump administration,” dagdag pa niya.
Ipinunto rin ng senador na mas nahirapan ang Landbank at DBP mula nang inalis ang kapital mula sa dalawang ahensya para makapagbigay ng kailangang suporta sa mga borrower at consumer.
“Even the International Monetary Fund recently stated that the capital taken from Landbank and DBP should be restored, kapital ng mga bangko natin, at kayang indahin kahit pa ‘yung biglaang pagbaba ng value ng piso laban sa dolyar, halimbawa,” ani Hontiveros.
“Malacañang cannot ignore the fragility of the Landbank and DBP after their MIF contributions. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ so-called regulatory relief only postpones the inevitable reckoning if borrower delinquencies increase,” dagdag pa niya.
Dagdag pa, dapat umanong sumunod ang BSP at ialerto ang Palasyo kaugnay sa “inadequacy and irregular nature” ng regulatory relief measures na ginawa ng LandBank at DBP para mag-ambag ng bilyon bilyong kapital sa MIF. RNT/JGC
