The Central Bank of the Philippines (BSP) expanded its family of polymer banknotes when it put three denominations into limited circulation on December 23, 2024. The BSP introduced its first polymer banknote, the 1,000 Piso denomination, in 2022.
The new polymer notes will circulate alongside the existing paper notes issued in the Philippines. All are valid legal tender.
Polymer banknotes have a lower carbon footprint
In an official statement, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. emphasized that, “Polymer banknotes are designed to keep up with the demands of everyday life. Unlike paper bills, which wear out after about a year or a year and a half, polymer banknotes can last up to seven and a half years, five times longer. And that means that we no longer need to replace them as often, saving money, cutting down on waste, and making a meaningful contribution to protecting the environment.”
Visual designs: Familiar, yet fresh and new
The Philippines polymer banknotes look familiar and have the same dimensions and color schemes as their paper counterparts. The polymer series also repeats elements from the paper banknotes, highlighting the country’s natural beauty and artisanal crafts.
That said, the polymer series replaces portraits of national heroes with unique, native, and endangered Philippine flora and fauna, as well as symbols of the country’s heritage. These fresh design elements are visible in the images below.
500-Piso Polymer Banknote
The 500-piso note features the Visayan spotted deer and Acanthephippium mantinianum, as well as the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, blue-naped parrot, and southern Philippine weave design.
100-Piso Polymer Banknote
The Palawan peacock-pheasant and Ceratocentron fesselii appear on the 100-piso note, as do the Mayon Volcano, whale shark, and Bicol Region weave design.
50-Piso Polymer Banknote
The 50-piso polymer note displays the Visayan leopard cat and Vidal’s lanutan, and Taal Lake, native maliputo fish, and Batangas embroidery design.
Security features to deter counterfeiting
To better prevent counterfeiting, the polymer banknotes contain more advanced security features than earlier issues.
All three new denominations have:
- A transparent window in the shape of a characteristic flower.
- A vertical transparent window with the Philippine coat of arms, the BSP logo, and the denomination. The 500-piso note contains an additional stripe with a movement effect and a three-dimensional denomination.
The 500-piso note is further protected by:
- A SPARK® element (denomination).
Accessible to visually impaired consumers
The new polymer notes have embossed tactile dots on the top long edge to help consumers who are visually impaired identify the denomination.
Sources/References:
The Central Bank of the Philippines
Banknote Industry News
Notafilia
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