DBP dividend cut, walang kaugnayan sa Maharlika Investment Fund

PINABULAANAN ni Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno ang alegasyon na ang Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) dividend cut  ay naglalayon na panatilihin ang  capital para sa panukalang Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).

Sa isang kalatas, sinabi  ni Diokno na ang  government banks gaya ng DBP at Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) ay pinayagan na babaan ang  kanilang dividends.

Tugon ito sa naging pahayag ni House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro na ang executive order ukol sa dividend reduction ay maaaring pumabor sa  MIF kaysa sa  national budget.

Nauna rito, nagpalabas ng kautusan si Pangulong Ferdinand  Marcos Jr.  na nagsasaad na ang porsiyento para sa   annual net earnings na idedeklara at  ire-remit ng  DBP  sa national government para sa  2021 ay ia- adjust mula  50% hanggang 0%.

Nakasaad sa panukalang  MIF na ang inisyal na  funding ay huhugutin mula sa DBP, na aabot sa  ₱25 billion.

Sinabi ni Diokno na   “absolutely no link” ang kautusan sa panukalang  DBP investment sa MIF.

“The reduction in the remittance of dividends of LBP and DBP have been made in the past, long before the MIF was conceived, in order to improve the ability of both government banks to deliver on their mandates and, at the same time, maintain their financial standing,” ayon kay Diokno

“The grant of dividend relief aims to provide DBP with a stronger capital base in support of its mandated developmental programs,” dagdag na wika nito.

Base sa kalatas na tumutukoy sa  Republic Act 7656, maaaring i-adjust ng chief executive ang porsiyento ng annual net earnings na idedeklara ng   government-owned o -controlled corporations (GOCCs) “in the interest of the national economy and general welfare.”

Ang lahat ng  GOCCs ay kailangan na magdeklara at mag- remit ng  50% ng kanilang  annual net earnings “as cash, stock, or property dividends” sa  national government. (Daris Jose)