(Eagle News) — The Philippine banking industry on Tuesday, March 5, welcomed the appointment of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno as the new governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
In a statement, the Bankers Association of the Philippines lauded Diokno as a “respected economist, academic and civil servant” who spearheaded “various budget and governance reforms which improved the efficiency of the delivery of government services in the country.”
“The BAP is optimistic that the reformist brand of leadership of the new BSP governor will pave the way in continuing the necessary reforms and policies to strengthen the Philippine banking industry,” the group said.
According to the BAP, it will “remain committed in its role as a partner of the national government in building a strong economy though an empowered Philippine banking sector.”
“Moving forward, the BAP supports the new BSP governor as a new chapter of the Bangko Sentral is about to unfold,” the group said.
Diokno succeeded Nestor Espenilla, who succumbed to tongue cancer in February.
He finished his bachelor’s degree in public administration and master’s degree in public administration and economics in the University of the Philippines.
He also has a Master of Arts in Political Economy degree from John Hopkins University, and a doctorate in economics from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University in New York.
Diokno is expected to serve the remainder of Espenilla’s six-year term at the BSP.
