How Much Lower Will The Peso Fall?

Written by Marc Adrian

To date, the peso dived further on Wednesday to ₱54.13 against the US dollar, its weakest in almost 13 years.

CNN Philippines quotes the Department of Finance (DOF) that the peso depreciated by 7.39 percent year-to-date, stating that the peso is now the third weakest among the 12 fastest-growing economies in Asia.

According to the DOF, the depreciation is due to “severe exchange rate volatility” as a result of the global trade war, “the Turkey-Argentina crisis, and the Federal Reserve Board monetary normalization.”

The country’s central bank is also actively engaged in the foreign exchange market and monitoring the situation

Land Bank of the Philippines market economist Guian Dumalagan was quoted by Rappler earlier commenting on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) role.

“There was still some intervention observed from the BSP.”

BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo attributed the peso’s weakness to the country’s growing economy.

“The economy continues to expand and you have all of those additional demand for foreign exchange,” he said.

Amid news of Filipinos queuing up to buy subsidized rice from the government and worries over the rising inflation, economists said that the outlook is not all gloomy as the weak peso is good for the economy.
[Source 1,2]