ni Lolet Abania | July 23, 2021
Inatasan ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) ang social media platform na Lyka na itigil ang kanilang operasyon bilang isang Operator of Payment System (OPS), habang naka-pending ang kanilang registration sa central bank.
“It has come to our knowledge that Lyka, a social media platform launched in the Philippines by a Hong Kong-based company, allows its users to purchase, exchange, and use Gift cards in Electronic Mode or GEMs as payment for goods and services,” ani BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno sa isang virtual press briefing ngayong Biyernes.
“The Monetary Board has ascertained that these activities make Lyka an OPS and is thus required to register with the BSP, which is needed before it is allowed to continue with its OPS activities,” sabi pa ng opisyal.
Ayon kay Diokno, iniutos na ng BSP sa Lyka na isuspinde ang kanilang aktibidad bilang isang OPS at sinabihan ang kumpanya na mag-apply ng registration bago pa payagan na maipagpatuloy ang kanilang operasyon.
Ang suspensiyon ng OPS operations ng Lyka ay sang-ayon sa Republic Act No. 11127 o ang National Payment Systems Act (NPSA).
Gayundin, nakasaad sa BSP Circular No. 1049 ang Rules and Regulations on the Registration of Operators of Payment System.
“Registration of an OPS allows the BSP to have oversight of the payment system it operates to ensure that it functions safely, efficiently, and reliably by itself, consistent with the central bank’s objectives of consumer protection and financial stability,” sabi ni Diokno.
Sa ilalim ng Circular No. 1049, ang OPS na kailangang i-register subalit lumabas na nag-o-operate nang walang registration ay inaatasang mag-comply agad sa registration requirements ng naturang circular.
Subalit, kapag nabigong sumunod dito ay ipatitigil ang operasyon ng kumpanya hanggang walang ginagawang aksiyon para irehistro ito sa BSP.
“This is without prejudice to other enforcement actions that may be taken against the OPS and its directors/officers and/or employees in accordance with the BSP’s authority over payment systems under RA No. 7653, as amended or The New Central Bank Act and the NPSA,” ayon sa opisyal.
Gayunman, sinabi ni Diokno na nagpahayag naman ng intensiyon ang Lyka na magparehistro sa BSP.
“The operators of Lyka have already expressed their willingness to register with the BSP as an OPS,” aniya.
Ipinaalala naman ng BSP na ang mga kumpanyang nag-o-operate ng isang payment system ay dapat mag-comply sa mga requirement sa ilalim ng NPSA at BSP Circular No. 1049 para mag-register sa BSP.
Pinayuhan din ng ahensiya ang publiko na mag-transact lamang sa BSP-registered OPS na nakatala sa BSP’s website.
“An OPS may be cash-in service providers, bills payment service providers, and entities such as payment gateways, platform providers, payment facilitators and merchant acquirers that enable sellers of goods and services to accept payments, in cash or digital form,” ayon sa BSP.
“To confirm if an OPS is duly registered with the BSP, the public may view the list at: https://www.bsp.gov.ph/PaymentAndSettlement/COR.pdf,” dagdag pa ng central bank.