State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is actively engaging several state corporations based in Central Luzon in a bid to expand its services to priority clientele especially those outside of its traditional market and city centers, a top official said.
DBP president and chief executive officer Michael de Jesus said the bank has entered into initial talks with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), City Government of Olongapo, Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) to jumpstart key projects covering energy, air transport, road network, urban development, as well as businesses within the export processing zone.
“We are looking at potential partnerships covering additional deposits and financing opportunities with SBMA, Local Government of Olongapo, CIAC and CDC, which are at the forefront of the economic resurgence of Central Luzon,” de Jesus said.
The DBP Board of Directors spearheaded the Central Luzon visits as part of efforts to generate additional deposits to fund priority projects under the Build, Better More program of the Marcos administration. In particular, the SBMA leg was initiated by DBP director Atty. Wilma Eisma, who was a former president and chairman of the said agency.
DBP chairman Philip Lo said the entire DBP Board has thrown its full support to the initiative and has vowed to take an active role to broaden the scope of services and client base of the Bank.
He said the DBP is looking to extend its market reach to include public firms, state universities and colleges and other municipalities and cities that require additional banking services for their respective constituencies.
“We believe that it is imperative for the Bank to reinforce partnerships with these state institutions that share the same values and ideals for national development with DBP,” Lo said.
