MANILA — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) assured the public on Monday, March 23, that its essential services will remain fully operational on Fridays, even as the institution aligns itself with broader government initiatives to cut energy consumption.
In an official statement released March 23, the central bank clarified that its physical branches and regional offices will not be shuttered by the current energy-saving mandates affecting various government agencies.
According to the BSP, onsite cash operations at its Head Office in Manila, the Security Plant Complex in Quezon City, and all BSP regional offices and branches nationwide will continue to be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday.
The assurance comes as several government entities explore flexible work arrangements to meet the Department of Energy’s (DOE) goal of reducing electricity and fuel use by 10% to 20%. However, the BSP emphasized that critical face-to-face transactions will remain a priority to ensure financial stability and convenience for the public.
“The BSP will also continue servicing onsite transactions involving BSP-acquired real properties and receipt of physical mails and documents from the public at the BSP Hub in Manila on Fridays,” the statement read.
Beyond physical documents, the bank is leveraging its digital infrastructure to ensure that consumer protection remains a 24/7 priority.
For those unable to visit physical hubs, the BSP’s Online Buddy (BOB) chatbot—accessible via the official website, Facebook Messenger, and the BSP mobile app—will remain active. The central bank confirmed that the AI assistant will continue “…receiving complaints about products and services of BSP-supervised institutions, 24/7.”
Financial consumers with grievances or inquiries may also continue to utilize the official email channel at consumeraffairs@bsp.gov.ph.
The move reflects the BSP’s dual commitment to the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP) and its mandate to provide uninterrupted service to the Philippine financial sector.|
