Phl breaks world record on longest line of coins

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the uncooperative weather and coin shortage, the Philippines managed to lay down 73.02 kilometers of 25-centavo coins, breaking the Guinness World Record on the longest line of coins held by the US.

Dr. Greg Suarez II, president of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Officers’ Club said the volunteers of “Mahalaga Ako – Barya ng mga Bayani: The Power of Small Change Campaign” group managed to lay down over 73 kilometers of 25-centavo coins at the Quirino Grandstand along Roxas Boulevard in Manila, possibly beating the existing Guinness world record of 64.88 kilometers held by a community of Fort Scott in Kansas on June 12, 2008 that was completed only in six hours.

Suarez said the official measurement is still being verified and would be submitted to Guinness within the next few days.

Raul Montero of the BSP Employees Association said volunteers achieved the feat despite the uncooperative weather as well as the shortage of 25-centavo coins.

Montero said the effort to lay down 25-centavo coins was hampered by the sudden downpour last Wednesday and yesterday.

He added the strong rains disrupted the activity and derailed the pattern of the coins. – With Perseus Echeminada

Montero said volunteers had to check anew the coins that were laid down last Tuesday because of the strong downpour.

He explained the organizers had to make sure that the coins were properly laid before these are documented and submitted to Guinness.

Montero said the organizers originally were targeting at least 70 kilometers but they experienced shortage of coins.

He said volunteers had to stop and rest Wednesday evening as there were no coins to lay down.

During the laying down of coins, Montero explained the organizers were short by 250,000 25-centavo coins to meet the 70-kilometer target.

The shortage was addressed with the arrival of more coins. The laying down of coins was supposed to be completed by 8 a.m. yesterday but was extended until evening due to the strong rains.

The organizers intend to raise at least 3.5 million 25-centavo coins to cover at least 70 kilometers to break the existing Guinness Record. One kilometer needs at least P12,500 worth of 25-centavo coins.

The record held by the US consisted of more than three million one-cent coins.

The previous record of 55.63 km had been set in Malaysia in 1995.

The project aims to unify Filipinos through the “Bayanihan” effort of breaking a world record and to unleash the power of small change by enlisting and involving as many Filipinos as possible to do small acts of heroism in the collection and donation of “barya” (loose change) as their modest contribution to nation building.

The project also aims to address the country’s acute shortage of public classrooms using the small coins collected and donated for the record-breaking attempt.

At least three classrooms could be constructed from proceeds of the initial 70-kilometer stretch of 25-centavo coins.

The BSP earlier blamed video game machines, karaoke machines, automated machines that dispense water or coffee, contributions in churches, as well as the illegal numbers game as the major cause of the artificial shortage of coins in the financial system.

Only about 10 percent of the 18.9 billion pieces of coins are being recirculated in the system.

Data showed that there are about 18.9 billion pieces of coins worth P18.9 billion in circulation denominated in P10, P5, P1 as well as 25 centavos, 10 centavos, and five centavos.

This translates to about 198 coins for each of the 94 million Filipinos.

In other countries, the number of coins per person is less than 100.

BSP officials also cited the practice of Filipinos saving their coins in piggy banks or even in drawers inside their houses and offices.

Latest data from the BSP showed that currency in circulation as of May 31 consisted of 1.959 billion pieces of banknotes worth P520.739 billion and 16.796 billion pieces of coins worth P18.678 billion. -With Perseus Echeminada