MANILA – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will likely ease policy “in the next couple of quarters” as inflation cools, a former economic manager and insurance executive said Tuesday.
Monetary authorities are looking for more signs that they are “comfortable” with the pace of inflation, said former National Treasurer Omar Cruz.
Based on yields, the market expects inflation to be stable in the medium to long term but investors in the short term are worried over volatile oil prices and government infrastructure financing.
The BSP last year raised the overnight borrowing rate, which banks use to price loans, by 175 basis points but held off on further hikes during its last 2 policy meetings.
Cruz, who now heads Insular Life’s bancassurance arm, said he saw “tremendous opportunity” with just “single-digit” penetration for the product.
Insular Life is tapping digital channels, to grow its business, he said. (ABS-CBN News)
