MANILA: The Philippine central bank has reported that remittances from Filipinos working overseas have surged 30 percent in June to $1.5 billion — the highest monthly inflow since 1989. The bank’s report on Friday says the June figure brought the six-month remittance level to $8.2 billion, up 17.2 percent from the same period a year ago. Central bank Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. says the sustained rise in the number of Filipino workers overseas has contributed to the robust figures. Some 8 million Filipinos — or nearly 10 percent of the population of about 90 million — work abroad. Last year, they sent home $14.45 billion.
