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The Philippines corporate debt and equity markets will need to grow to provide alternative financing sources to support the strongly growing economy and emphasis on infrastructure spend. Capital markets deepening will be an essential pre-requisite for the country’s continued economic development. Well-functioning capital markets ensure the optimal allocation and pricing of capital. This enables retail and wholesale pools of capital to be efficiently deployed in a manner that maximizes returns for such owners of capital against their risk profile. Furthermore, there are a number of technical and operational issues that can be addressed, that can significantly improve the enabling environment for and functioning of the capital markets. The result of these factors has been a lack of focus in policy development and implementation that has hampered capital market development. Key issues include: a lack of commitment to reform from key stakeholders that has impeded the development of markets and market infrastructure; an onerous tax environment that has deterred issuance and investment; a continuing need to improve investor confidence by strengthening the quality of supervision and enforcement for market intermediaries and market operators; cumbersome regulatory requirements and processes around issuance, particularly debt issuance; and outdated and inefficient trading and post-trading infrastructure, and governance concerns regarding market operators. In order to effect meaningful change, a capital markets champion is required. This champion should be cognizant of the relevance of capital markets to the country and possess the will and vision to drive legislative, regulatory, and tax reforms. In addition, a commitment to initiate a change in the ownership and governance of key exchanges and enforce policy against entrenched interests will provide considerable impetus for development.

The existence of a sound financial consumer protection framework is fundamental to increasing access to and usage of financial services, and the quality of those financial services, along with supporting further financial sector deepening. Financial consumer protection is a necessary precursor to building trust in the formal financial sector and thus in encouraging financial inclusion. Further, consumer protection helps ensure that expanded access benefits consumers and the economy as a whole. While increased access can result in significant economic and societal benefits, it can be neutral or even harmful if consumers: (i) cannot exercise their rights as consumers, (ii) cannot select the financial products that suit them best; and (iii) are not protected from mis-selling, fraud, and other market abuses. The main objective of a CPFL Review is to assess the legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for financial consumer protection in a country, with reference to the good practices. The following areas are addressed: (i) institutional arrangements, (ii) the legal and regulatory framework, (iii) transparency and disclosure, (iv) business practices, (v) complaints handling and dispute resolution mechanisms and (vi) financial literacy/capability. All parts of a financial sector can be considered, including banking, non-bank credit institutions, insurance, securities, private pensions, and credit reporting.

The existence of a sound financial consumer protection framework is fundamental to increasing access to and usage of financial services, and the quality of those financial services, along with supporting further financial sector deepening. Financial consumer protection is a necessary precursor to building trust in the formal financial sector and thus in encouraging financial inclusion. Further, consumer protection helps ensure that expanded access benefits consumers and the economy as a whole. While increased access can result in significant economic and societal benefits, it can be neutral or even harmful if consumers: (i) cannot exercise their rights as consumers, (ii) cannot select the financial products that suit them best; and (iii) are not protected from mis-selling, fraud, and other market abuses. The main objective of a CPFL Review is to assess the legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for financial consumer protection in a country, with reference to the good practices. The following areas are addressed: (i) institutional arrangements, (ii) the legal and regulatory framework, (iii) transparency and disclosure, (iv) business practices, (v) complaints handling and dispute resolution mechanisms and (vi) financial literacy/capability. All parts of a financial sector can be considered, including banking, non-bank credit institutions, insurance, securities, private pensions, and credit reporting.

The responsibilities of the regulator should be clearly and objectively stated. The regulator should be operationally independent and accountable in the exercise of its functions and powers. The regulator should have adequate powers, proper resources and the capacity to perform its functions and exercise its powers. The regulator should adopt clear and consistent regulatory processes. The staff of the regulator should observe the highest professional standards including appropriate standards of confidentiality. The regulatory regime should make appropriate use of Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs) that exercise some direct oversight responsibility for their respective areas of competence, and to the extent appropriate to the size and complexity of the markets. SROs should be subject to the oversight of the regulator and should observe standards of fairness and confidentiality when exercising powers and delegated responsibilities. The regulator should have comprehensive inspection, investigation and surveillance powers. The regulator should have comprehensive enforcement powers. The regulatory system should ensure an effective and credible use of inspection, investigation, surveillance and enforcement powers and implementation of an effective compliance program. The regulator should have authority to share both public and non-public information with domestic and foreign counterparts. Regulators should establish information sharing mechanisms that set out when and how they will share both public and non-public information with their domestic and foreign counterparts. The regulatory system should allow for assistance to be provided to foreign regulators who need to make inquiries in the discharge of their functions and exercise of their powers.