Repatriation of offshore pension billions begins
Friday, August 25, 2023 | 1720 Views |
Shot in the arm: The new rules are expected to provide additional capital for local infrastructure
Known formally as the Pension Fund Rule 2 or PFR 2, the NBFIRA (Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority) statute previously required pension funds to invest at least 30% of their assets locally.
Under changes to the Retirement Funds Act, local pension funds will be required to invest a minimum of 50% domestically, a figure that as at May meant that P16.8 billion would have to be repatriated.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...