New peso bills 'eat' bacteria from hands

MANILA, Philippines - The new generation bank notes launched recently by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas bear a component that kills harmful bacteria in dirty hands, a top official of the BSP said yesterday.

Diwa Guinigundo, BSP deputy governor, told reporters during the Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel news forum that aside from having special security features and quality material, the new bank notes are pro-environment and can prevent the spread of diseases.

“Upon contact with any bacteria, a component of the bill activates and eats the bacteria,” Guinigundo said, adding that the new P20, P50, P100 and P200 bills have other security features including embossed prints, serial numbers, watermarks, see-through marks, concealed value and security threads.

The P500 and P1000 bills also have a special security feature – the so-called optical variable device, a reflected foil that bears the image of a blue-naped parrot and a small BSP logo.

The color of the parrot changes from red to green when the note is rotated by 90 degrees.

“The advance technology incorporated in the new generation currency will practically isolate fake money from circulation,” he said.

The BSP official said 20 percent of the new peso bills are made from abaca fiber explaining their strength and durability.

The bills also depict historical figures, endangered animals and popular tourist destinations in the country.

Meantime, tourism and local government officials of Bicol lauded the inclusion of the Mayon Volcano in Albay and the butanding (whale shark) found in Sorsogon in the designs at the back of the latest edition of the Philippines’ P100 bill.

Bicol tourism director Maria “Nini” Revilla said the move of the BSP to include scenic spots would play a big role in tourism promotion.

On the other hand, residents of Nueva Vizcaya have been warned of counterfeit bills amid reports of their proliferation in the province as well as the arrest of individuals engaged in their circulation.

Superintendent Israel Baltazar of the Isabela police office said even automated teller machines (ATMs) had been known to churn out fake bills.

 “We have received reports of counterfeit money coming from ATMs and we are investigating this. We advise the public to be extra vigilant against such fake bills,” Baltazar said.

Baltazar’s advice came as a couple, suspected to be members of a counterfeit bill syndicate, was nabbed in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya while purchasing items in several establishments using fake bills.

According to the police, the suspects, identified as Andy Kalim, 25, and wife Romina, 21, said to be natives of North Cotabato but are now residing in Taguig City, had already bought several items in the Solano public market when shop owners noticed they had been paid fake P500 and P1,000 bills. – With Cet Dematera, Charlie Lagasca