Years of study, consultation went into new coin design – BSP exec

The New Generation Currency (NGC) coin designs were the product of years of studies, discussion, and consultations with stake holders, a Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) executive said on Friday.

"Ang mga disenyo (niyang) lahat, dumaan 'yan sa in-depth, masusing pag-aaral. It took us almost, like, two to three years para maka-arrive tayo sa ganyang klaseng disenyo," BSP Currency Management Sub-sector Managing Director Josefa Elvira Ditching-Lorico said on GMA News TV program  "Balitanghali".

Responding to criticism that it was difficult to differentiate the new coins from one another, Ditching-Lorico said that several features had been included to prevent such difficulties.

She pointed out that the numbers engraved on the new coins, being bigger than the previous series, were easier to see.

"Ang ating mga disenyong nakalagay sa pera natin ay merong 10, 5, 1. So makikita natin agad 'yung amount," she explained.

The executive added that the texture on the coins' sides could also help visually challenged people to identify the coins.

"Kung visually impaired, kung visually challenged 'yung tao, salatin mo. 'Ang sampung piso, salatin mo, may ridges. Ang sumunod, limang piso, smooth. And then 'yung piso, meron din siyang gatla-gatla na magkaka-hiwalay," she said.

When asked about the size of the new P1 coin being so close to the P5 coin, Ditching-Lorico said the BSP had taken into consideration their compatibility with vending machines, especially in public transportation.

"Nakipag-ugnayan natin ang stake holders namin. Kaya magtataka kayo kasi bakit ba (ganito) ang sizes natin? First of all, sa panahon natin ngayon, marami nang gumagamit sa'tin ng mga vending machines," she said.

"Ginagamit din ang mga MRT, LRT, transportasyon. Nakipag-ugnayan kami sa kanila, napag-usapan din 'yung size. At kung papano siya 'yan matatanggap ng vending machine."

Without giving an exact date when the old series of coins would be demonitized, Ditching-Lorico said the public could still hold onto them until they get used to the new ones.

In March, PBA party-list Representative Jericho Nograles had called on the BSP to recall the new coins, arguing that the designs initiated during the Aquino administration lacked consultation with "any school of the blind," and did not consider public transportation drivers or the visually impaired.

"Confusing similarities" were also cited by Senator Nancy Binay. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News