*  *  *  Secretary Arthur Yap, Mr. Tomas Gomez IV, board of directors and officers of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), our friends in rural banking, good evening. I am delighted to have this opportunity to keynote the inauguration of the new directors and officers of the RBAP.
It is, indeed, an auspicious new day for the rural banking industry. Seeing the new set of directors and officers at RBAP’s helm, I am certain that you will provide the impetus needed for the rural banking sector to once again forge ahead. Rural banks have an important and challenging role in our country’s economic development.