Contributions to the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) system reached P757.554 million in the first half of 2026, representing a 45.3% increase from P521.363 million during the same period last year. The total number of PERA contributors increased by 385.31% to 30,055, up from 6,193 a year ago, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Contributor Breakdown

Employee contributions accounted for 59.33% of the total funds, growing by 24.08% year-on-year to P449.45 million. Contributions from self-employed individuals increased by 179.85% to P207.901 million.

Funds from overseas Filipinos rose by 18.12% to P100.203 million. According to the central bank’s data, self-employed individuals represented the largest segment of enrollees during this period, totaling 23,529 contributors.

The number of PERA-enrolled employees increased by 22.63% to 5,441, while overseas Filipinos with PERA accounts rose by 33.29% to 1,085.

Digital Platforms and Open Finance

The BSP previously launched the Open Finance for PERA Pilot to standardize the onboarding process across different financial institutions. The framework allows users to open PERA accounts through the digital platforms of participating entities.

Participating companies include Land Bank of the Philippines, Maya Philippines, Inc., Metropolitan Bank & Trust Corp., Philippine National Bank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Union Bank of the Philippines, Inc., and G-Xchange, Inc. (GCash). These investments are managed by PERA administrators ATRAM Trust Corp., BDO Unibank, Inc., and BPI Wealth.

BSP Deputy Governor Lyn I. Javier stated that several digital banks have also indicated interest in offering PERA products on their respective platforms.

Employer and Institutional Participation

The central bank is coordinating with employers to increase the share of corporate-sponsored PERA accounts. In May, East West Banking Corp. initiated a voluntary PERA contribution program for its workforce, operating with DragonFi Securities, Inc. as the administrator.

Under the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act, private employers can claim up to a 150% tax deduction if they match or exceed their employees’ PERA contributions. The PERA law, established in 2016, also provides individual contributors with specific tax exemptions and credits.

Javier noted that the BSP is coordinating with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to increase account registrations among overseas Filipino workers.

This article is published on BitPinas: PERA Contributions Reach P757.5 Million in First Half of 2026

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