BSP names Zeno Abenoja as new deputy governor

MANILA, Philippines — Zeno Ronald Abenoja, a long-time central banker and economist, has been appointed deputy governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)’s Monetary and Economics Sector (MES), a key post that oversees the country’s monetary policy and economic research.

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. has sworn in Abenoja to succeed Francisco Dakila Jr., who held the post for six years or since 2019.

Abenoja most recently served as assistant governor after returning to the BSP last year. From 2022 to 2024, he was undersecretary for the Policy Development and Management Services Group at the Department of Finance.

Before his stint at the DOF, Abenoja was managing director of the BSP’s MES, the same sector he now leads as deputy governor.

“The BSP is fortunate to have someone like Zeno, with his breadth of experience in economic policy and his depth of understanding in monetary economics,” Remolona said in a text message to The STAR.

Monetary Board Member Benjamin Diokno, who previously worked with Abenoja at the DOF, praised the appointment, citing Abenoja’s deep understanding of macroeconomic policy.

“Having served as my chief economist at the Department of Finance, DG Zeno appreciates the close link between monetary and fiscal policies. I’m confident that with Zeno as their chief, MES and BSP are in good hands,” Diokno said.

Rosalia de Leon, also a member of the Monetary Board, expressed confidence in Abenoja’s leadership, describing him as a model public servant known for his quiet diligence and technical mastery.

“His outstanding track record in public service speaks volumes about his readiness to assume greater responsibility at the BSP. For the next generation of public servants, he stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved through quiet dedication and mastery of one’s craft,” she said.

Abenoja takes over Dakila, a respected economist who led the MES in crafting monetary policy, managing liquidity and maintaining external stability. Dakila is known for his contributions to economic research and central banking.

Meanwhile, the BSP and the United Nations Environment Program–Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI) jointly organized the “Webinar on Climate Risk Modeling for Adaptation and Resilience” on May 2, attended by over 100 banks and other financial institutions.

The webinar featured speakers from UNEP-FI’s V20 sustainable insurance facility, a project pipeline platform designed to support the development of climate-smart insurance solutions for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in climate-vulnerable markets, including the Philippines.

The webinar also provided an opportunity for UNEP-FI to present its technical assistance program for banks, with funding support from the Asian Development Bank, aimed at advancing climate-smart financing strategies that benefit MSMEs.