From March 2025-March 2026

Bohol deposits grew 18.7%,

higher than region’s growth

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—In a year, Bank deposits in Bohol grew by 18.7 percent, registering a figure double than the regional growth and even drowning Cebu’s deposit growth, data from the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) showed.

In fact, in March of 2025, PDIC noted 126 banking offices in Bohol, a figure that became 130, or four new bank offices setting offices here, and helping the province attain a physical bank growth rate of 3.2%, which much higher than the regional bank growth of 1.8 percent and Cebu’s 1.6 percent, the same government corporation data also revealed.

PDIC Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group Jose Villaret Jr., said that since March 2025 when the PDIC Board approved the increase of maximum deposit insurance to P1,000,000 from 500,000 since 2009, bank deposits in Bohol went from P83.9 billion to 99.5 billion for what he termed as a sizable growth.

Coming in for the PDIC regional leg of their national run on PDIC 101: understanding Deposit Insurance for Bohol Media, Villaret hinted that the PDIC Board decision has caused Boholano depositors to re-engage in banking.

PDIC believes the bigger amount of insurance coverage has pushed more Boholanos to regain interest in deposits and that they are confident their hard-earned money is assured safe.

It may be recalled that in 1963 when the PDIC became a government entity, the maximum deposit insurance coverage (MDIC) was then at P10,000.00

MDIC refers to the maximum amount of depositor’s money in an insured bank is guaranteed as safe by the PDIC.

By 1978, through Presidential Decree No 1451, the deposit insurance went up to P15,000, then by 1984, through PD 1897, it shot to P40,000.

It was in 1992 when the maximum deposit insurance was raised to 100,000 through RA 7400.

In 2004, the Congress again legislated for a P250,000 maximum deposit insurance through RA 9302, and again raised it via RA 9576 to P500,000 in 2009.

It was only in 2022, when the decision to increase the maximum deposit insurance was transferred to the PDIC Board that it approved a P1,000,000 maximum deposit insurance and this was formalized with RA 3591 as amended, Villaret narrated.

The current MDIC is at P1,000,000 pert depositor per bank, effective March 2025, he clarified.

The increase in the MDIC was apro-active easure to enhance depositor protection and promote financial stability. (PIABohol)

DEPOSIT INTEREST. PDIC VP for Corporate Affairs Jose Villaret Jr., pointed out that in a year’s time, bank deposits in Bohol grew from 83.8 billion to 99.5 billion, a growth PDIC credits to the economic situation plus regained confidence with the bigger deposit insurance coverage. (PIAbohol)

DTI opens Bohol’s 40th biz’

assistance hub in Dagohoy

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—With a robust municipal waterworks system and vast farmlands now sprouting small agri-businesses, small time entrepreneurs of Dagohoy, can now come to a free business advice from professionals, as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bohol capped its August 2026 calendar by the opening of Bohol’s 40th Negosyo Center (NC) in town.

NCs are DTI’s programs established to provide accessible business developments services to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and aspiring entrepreneurs in the town, where formal business facilitation can be had for free.

Opened August 28, in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Dagohoy under Mayor Sofronio Apat, the new NC is Bohol’s 40th, opened 11 years after the first two business facilitation centers in Bohol opened in 2015.

The DTI through SME development Division head Jerome Gabin and Mayor Apat signed the memorandum of agreement for the operationalization of the project, where the town MSMEs can have business registration assistance especially DTI business name registration for sole proprietorships.

Also available to residents from the NC are business advisory and mentoring, entrepreneurship training and seminars, market and product development assistance, business matching and market linkages, according to Engr. Naphtali Balaba, business counsellor.

Apart from those services, the DTI NC also offers assistance in accessing government programs for MSMEs, information on permits, licenses and regulatory requirements, digitalization and e-commerce assistance as well as referral to appropriate DTI offices and other government agencies for financing and credit window provisions.

Through the partnership of DTI and LGU Dagohoy, this NC aims to provide easier access to business registration, business advisory services, information, training and other programs that support MSMEs growth and development, Balaba said.

We have built one of the fundamentals in business: reliable potable water supply, Mayor Apat said as he expressed his appreciation for the government’s help in putting up the business help center where his residents can get reliable help from experts.

Dagohoy also attracted a green energy company to set up clean power in town, which is among Bohol’s first clean technology investments in line with the provincial agenda for sustainable development.

Earlier, the DTI also opened Negosyo Centers in Bien Unido (August 26, 2026), Garcia Hernandez and San Isidro (August 27) and Bilar.

Institutionalized by Republic Act No. 10644, or the Go Negosyo Act, which provides for the establishment of Negosyo Centers in provinces, cities and municipalities to promote ease of doing business and facilitate access to services for MSMEs, the Dagohoy NC, also brings to only 9 Bohol towns now without the business assistance hub.

The development also puts more arches into Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado’s push for Bohol's economy by attracting over ₱20.4 billion in new investments, empowering local small businesses, and pushing for sustainable growth under the "Abante Bohol" development framework.

These investments from 2025 to early 2026, were in tourism, energy, retail, and infrastructure.

Such also generated some 2,800 new jobs for local residents, including the 1500 jobs opened by the new business process management center locating in Tagbilaran City.

The ongoing construction of the Bohol International Convention Center in Panglao aims to host massive international events and draw more business tourists, while Bohol forged sisterhood agreements with Cebu and other leading cities in the country to open up new economic doors and windows of opportunities for Boholanos. (PIAbohol)