BSP to start releasing darker P100 bill

CEBU, Philippines - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-Cebu Regional Office is expecting to receive the new 100 peso bills with stronger violet color within the first quarter of the year.

BSP-Cebu Director Lawyer Leonides Sumbi told The FREEMAN yesterday that regional offices and branches have not yet received their allocation of the bill's new version from the central office.

"We will receive the new printing anytime first quarter of 2016," she said.

 BSP announced last Friday that it is issuing the deeper-colored P100 bills starting today.

 The change in color of the P100 bill was made to make it more distinct and easier to distinguish from the P1000 bill after the public suggested to do so.

 "Compared with the current color of the 100-Peso banknote in circulation, the new 100-Peso banknote will have stronger mauve or violet color on the obverse and reverse sides. All the other features of the said banknote will remain the same," the central bank said in a statement. 

 The P100 bill carries the portrait of former Pres. Manuel Roxas and the old Central Bank building on its face while its reverse side features the Mayon Volcano and the whale shark.

 Sumbi said the current P100 bill can still be used for payment of goods and services.

 BSP said the original current P100 bills will commingle with deeper-colored new banknotes until supplies of the first version last. "Henceforth, the BSP will be printing the 100-Peso bill with stronger mauve or violet color," it added.

 Meanwhile, BSP has already demonetized the old banknotes effective Dec. 31, 2015 but the public can still have them exchanged for the New Generation Currency (NGC) bills with BSP offices and banks until the end of 2016.  (FREEMAN)