The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which turned 17 last July 3, remitted P4.92 billion to the National Government Tuesday as partial dividend payments on its 2009 net income.

BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. has confirmed the deposit of the dividend. The BSP, as an independent government owned and controlled corporation, has always remitted the largest dividend amount among other GOCCs.

The BSP's Monetary Board has noted the proposed total dividends of P9.85 billion last April, which was the estimated NG share in the BSP unaudited net profits last year of P13.131 billion. The computation was based on Republic Act No. 7653, which required the central bank to remit 75 percent of its net profits to a special deposit account or to the NG as dividend.

The balance of P4.93 billion will be paid after any adjustments that the Commission on Audit will make once it has assessed BSP's annual report.

"(The) balance will be determined based on COA's audited financial report," said Tetangco.

Documents show that the remittance of the partial P4.92 billion amount consists of cash and property. The cash portion amounts to P4.475 billion while the property portion is worth P449 million and involves 14 properties including the historical Pamintuan Mansion, the Philippines’ first presidential residence. It was here that President Emilio Aguinaldo, the country’s first president, held his office in 1897.