BSP survey: 48% of Filipino adults find emergency funds very hard to raise
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Key points
- In BSP's 2025 Consumer Finance and Inclusion Survey, 48% of adults said raising emergency funds would be very difficult.
- A further 15% said they could not; only 30% could live on savings if income stopped.
- BSP and GFTN launched an open challenge on household financial health.
Implications
Facts
Survey: according to BSP's 2025 Consumer Finance and Inclusion Survey, 48% of adults said raising funds for an unexpected expense would be very difficult and 15% said they could not do so at all. 30% of adults could maintain their living expenses from savings if their income stopped. Source: Fintech News Philippines (18 September 2026). 1
Challenge: BSP and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) launched the 'ASEAN Financial Health Challenge' on responsible access to credit, emergency savings and insurance. Applications close on 2 October 2026; finals are at the Singapore FinTech Festival on 18–20 November. Same source.
Analysis
A structure in which most households cannot cover emergencies from savings means unexpected costs tend to be met by borrowing. In Indonesia, BI's August survey also showed the saving share falling to 15.8% (BI), so thin household buffers are a regional feature. In the Philippines, rising unemployment (July 6.0%) and a rising consumer NPL ratio (5.49%) are occurring together, and thin buffers make arrears more likely to cascade.
Counterpoints and uncertainties
The survey is a single 2025 cross-section and cannot show improvement or deterioration over time.
Key figures
- Adults finding emergency funds very difficult to raise: 48%. Share of adults saying raising funds for an unexpected expense would be very difficult. Adults, Philippines. Basis date: 31 Dec 2025. Source: Fintech News Philippines: 48% of Filipinos Can't Easily Raise Emergency Funds, BSP Says (2026-09-18)
BSP Consumer Finance and Inclusion Survey 2025.
Sources
SEA Lending Brief
A weekly summary of lending, credit and regulation across Southeast Asia.
Reports are for information only and are not investment advice.
A Japanese version of this article is available: 日本語版