Pursuant to Monetary Board Resolution No. 1782 dated 10 December 2009, allowing cross-currency investment for peso trust, other fiduciary and investment management accounts, including peso unit investment trust funds, the Manual of Regulations for Banks (MORB) and Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions (MORNBFI) are hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 1. Subsections X409.6 and 4409Q.6 of the MORB and MORNBFI, respectively, are hereby amended to read as follows:

œSubsection X409.6/4409Q.6 Other applicable regulations on loans and investments. The loans and investments of trust and other fiduciary accounts shall be subject to pertinent laws, rules and regulations for banks/non-banks with quasi-banking functions that shall include but need not be limited to the following:

œa. Requirements of Sections 39 and 40 OF R.A. NO. 8791 (THE GENERAL BANKING LAW OF 2000);     

œx x x

œd. Qualitative appraisal of loans, investments and other assets that may require provision for probable losses which shall be booked in accordance with the FINANCIAL REPORTING PACKAGE FOR TRUST INSTITUTIONS;

œE. REQUIREMENTS OF SECTIONS 3 AND 8 OF THE SECURITIES REGULATION CODE; AND

œF. PROVISIONS OF SECTION 44 - INVESTMENTS BY PHILIPPINE RESIDENTS - OF THE BSP MANUAL OF REGULATIONS ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS, SUCH THAT THE CROSS-CURRENCY INVESTMENTS OF PESO TRUST AND OTHER FIDUCIARY ACCOUNTS, INCLUDING PESO UNIT INVESTMENT TRUST (UIT) FUNDS, SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

(1) ALL CASH FLOWS OF THE TRUSTEE OR FIDUCIARY SHALL ONLY BE IN PESOS. IN CASE THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE ACQUIRED OR RECEIVED BY THE TRUSTEE OR FIDUCIARY AS DIVIDENDS/ EARNINGS OR DIVESTMENT PROCEEDS ON SUCH INVESTMENT ARE INTENDED FOR REINVESTMENT ABROAD, THE SAME PROCEEDS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE INWARDLY REMITTED AND SOLD FOR PESOS THROUGH AUTHORIZED AGENT BANKS: PROVIDED, THAT SUCH PROCEEDS ARE REINVESTED ABROAD WITHIN TWO (2) BANKING DAYS FROM RECEIPT OF THE FUNDS ABROAD;

(2)THE TRUSTEE OR FIDUCIARY SHALL PURCHASE, INVEST, RE-INVEST, SELL, TRANSFER OR DISPOSE FOREIGN CURRENCY-DENOMINATED FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING SECURITIES AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE SECURITIES REGULATION CODE, THROUGH A DISTRIBUTOR OR UNDERWRITER DULY AUTHORIZED OR LICENSED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH INSTRUMENTS, OR A COUNTERPARTY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SELLER OR BUYER) ACCREDITED BY THE TRUSTEE OR FIDUCIARY, PROVIDED, THAT, THE CONDUCT, DOCUMENTATION, AND SETTLEMENT OF ANY OF THESE TRANSACTIONS SHALL BE OUTSIDE PHILIPPINE JURISDICTION;

(3)THE TRUSTEE OR FIDUCIARY SHALL RECORD CROSS-CURRENCY INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS IN THE PESO REGULAR BOOKS AT THEIR FOREIGN CURRENCY AMOUNTS AND THEIR LOCAL CURRENCY EQUIVALENT USING THE PHILIPPINE DEALING SYSTEM PESO/ US DOLLAR CLOSING RATE AND THE NEW YORK US DOLLAR/THIRD CURRENCIES CLOSING RATE.

(4)THE TRUSTEE OR FIDUCIARY SHALL COMPLY WITH THE REPORTORIAL REQUIREMENTS THAT MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY THE BSP, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE AS A MINIMUM, THE FOREIGN CURRENCY AMOUNT AND THE LOCAL CURRENCY EQUIVALENT OF THE TOTAL CROSS CURRENCY INVESTMENTS WITH DETAILS ON: (A) TYPE OF INVESTMENTS; AND (B) AMOUNT OF CASH FLOW CONVERTED.

œFOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION, ˜RESIDENT ™, AS DEFINED UNDER SECTION 1 OF THE BSP MANUAL OF REGULATIONS ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS, SHALL REFER TO THE (A) TRUSTEE OR FIDUCIARY THAT ADMINISTERS THE ASSETS RECEIVED IN TRUST OR IN OTHER FIDUCIARY CAPACITY; OR (B) PRINCIPAL THAT ENGAGES THE SERVICES OF THE INVESTMENT MANAGER UNDER AN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT. 

SECTION 2. Subsections X410.9 and 4410Q.9 of the MORB and MORNBFI, respectively, are hereby amended to read as follows:

œSubsection X410.9/4410Q.9 Allowable investments and valuation. UIT Fund investments shall be limited to bank deposits and the following financial instruments:

x x x

œ(f) Such other tradable investment outlets/categories as the MONETARY BOARD may allow.

œPROVIDED, THAT THE INVESTMENT OF THE PESO UIT FUND IN TRADABLE FOREIGN CURRENCY-DENOMINATED FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ITEMS œE  AND œF  OF SUBSECTION X409.6./4409Q.6.

œProvided FURTHER, That a financial instrument is regarded as tradable if quoted two-way prices are readily and regularly available from an exchange, dealer, broker, industry group, pricing service or regulatory agency, and those prices represent actual and regularly occurring market transactions on an arm ™s length basis.

œThe UIT Fund may avail itself of financial derivatives instruments solely for the purpose of hedging risk exposures of the existing investments of the Fund, provided these are accounted for in accordance with existing BSP hedging guidelines as well as the trust entity ™s risk management and hedging policies duly approved by the Trust Committee and disclosed to participants.

œThe use of hedging instruments shall also be disclosed in the œPlan  as provided in Item œc  of Subsec. X410.6  and specified in the quarterly œlist of investment outlets  as provided in Item œa  of Subsec. X410.7. 

SECTION  3. Subsections X411.8 and 4411Q.8 of the MORB and MORNBFI, respectively, are hereby amended to read as follows:

œSubsection X411.8/4411Q.8 OTHER APPLICABLE REGULATIONS ON LOANS AND INVESTMENTS.  THE LOANS AND INVESTMENTS OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO  PERTINENT LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR BANKS/NON-BANKS WITH QUASI-BANKING FUNCTIONS THAT SHALL INCLUDE BUT NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

œA. REQUIREMENTS OF SECTIONS 39 AND 40 OF R.A. NO. 8791 (THE GENERAL BANKING LAW OF 2000);

œB. PROVISIONS OF SECTION 4(E) OF THE NEW RULES ON REGISTRATION OF SHORT-TERM COMMERCIAL PAPERS AND SECTION 7(F) OF THE NEW RULES ON REGISTRATION OF LONG-TERM COMMERCIAL PAPERS ISSUED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE (APPENDICES 13 AND 14);

œC. CRITERIA FOR PAST DUE ACCOUNTS;

œD. QUALITATIVE APPRAISAL OF LOANS, INVESTMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS THAT MAY REQUIRE PROVISION FOR PROBABLE LOSSES WHICH SHALL BE BOOKED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FINANCIAL REPORTING PACKAGE FOR TRUST INSTITUTIONS;

œE. REQUIREMENTS OF SECTIONS 3 AND 8 OF THE SECURITIES REGULATION CODE; AND

œF. PROVISIONS OF SECTION 44 - INVESTMENTS BY PHILIPPINE RESIDENTS - OF THE BSP MANUAL OF REGULATIONS ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS, SUCH THAT THE CROSS-CURRENCY INVESTMENTS OF PESO INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS, SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

(1) ALL CASH FLOWS OF THE INVESTMENT MANAGER SHALL ONLY BE IN PESOS. IN CASE THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE ACQUIRED OR RECEIVED BY THE PRINCIPAL AS DIVIDENDS/EARNINGS OR DIVESTMENT PROCEEDS ON SUCH INVESTMENT ARE INTENDED FOR REINVESTMENT ABROAD, THE SAME PROCEEDS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE INWARDLY REMITTED AND SOLD FOR PESOS THROUGH AUTHORIZED AGENT BANKS: PROVIDED,  THAT SUCH PROCEEDS ARE REINVESTED ABROAD WITHIN TWO (2) BANKING DAYS FROM RECEIPT OF THE FUNDS ABROAD:

(2)THE INVESTMENT MANAGER SHALL PURCHASE, INVEST, RE-INVEST, SELL, TRANSFER OR DISPOSE FOREIGN CURRENCY-DENOMINATED FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING SECURITIES AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE SECURITIES REGULATION CODE, THROUGH A DISTRIBUTOR OR UNDERWRITER DULY AUTHORIZED OR LICENSED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH INSTRUMENTS, OR A COUNTERPARTY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SELLER OR BUYER) AUTHORIZED IN WRITING BY THE   PRINCIPAL AND/OR ACCREDITED BY THE INVESTMENT MANAGER, PROVIDED, THAT, THE CONDUCT, DOCUMENTATION, AND SETTLEMENT OF ANY OF THESE TRANSACTIONS SHALL BE OUTSIDE PHILIPPINE JURISDICTION;

(3) THE INVESTMENT MANAGER SHALL RECORD CROSS-CURRENCY INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS IN THE PESO REGULAR BOOKS AT THEIR FOREIGN CURRENCY AMOUNTS AND THEIR LOCAL CURRENCY EQUIVALENT USING THE PHILIPPINE DEALING SYSTEM PESO/ US DOLLAR CLOSING RATE AND THE NEW YORK US DOLLAR/THIRD CURRENCIES CLOSING RATE; AND

(4)THE INVESTMENT MANAGER SHALL COMPLY WITH THE REPORTORIAL REQUIREMENTS THAT MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY THE BSP, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE AS A MINIMUM, THE FOREIGN CURRENCY AMOUNT AND THE LOCAL CURRENCY EQUIVALENT OF THE TOTAL CROSS CURRENCY INVESTMENTS WITH DETAILS ON: (A) TYPE OF INVESTMENTS; AND (B) AMOUNT OF CASH FLOW CONVERTED.

œFOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION, œRESIDENT , AS DEFINED UNDER SECTION 1 OF THE BSP MANUAL OF REGULATIONS ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS, SHALL REFER TO THE PRINCIPAL THAT ENGAGES THE SERVICES OF THE INVESTMENT MANAGER UNDER AN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT. 

SECTION 4. Subsections X411.8 and X411.9 of the MORB are hereby renumbered as Subsections X411.9 and X411.10, respectively. Subsections 4411Q.8 and 4411Q.9 of the MORNBFI are hereby renumbered as 4411Q.9 and 4411Q.10, respectively.

SECTION 5. This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.
 
Adopted: 29 Dec. 2009

FOR THE MONETARY BOARD

(SGD.) AMANDO M. TETANGCO, JR.
Governor