The government’s financing arm for small businesses targets P12 billion in loan releases for micro, small and medium enterprises in 2026, including P2 billion for women entrepreneurs, officials said Wednesday.
Small Business Corp. president and chief executive Robert Bastillo said on the sidelines of a Department of Trade and Industry event that the lending program could still increase depending on demand and available funds. Bastillo said any increase would require clearance from the Department of Budget and Management.
“Our total target loan releases for 2026 is P12 billion. So far, we’ve allocated P7 billion for special programs, but we may request to ask for more if demand is high,” Bastillo said.
Last year, SBCorp released about P11.2 billion in loans, supported by strong repayment rates among borrowers.
The agency offers regular and special financing programs, with regular facilities providing up to P3 million for established businesses. These regular loans typically do not carry grace periods since the borrowers are already operating.
The corporation also provides special financing programs with more flexible terms, including optional grace periods of three months, six months or up to 1 year. These programs are designed for priority sectors such as returning overseas Filipino workers or exporters. Loan amounts under these special programs can reach as much as P10 million depending on the scale of the enterprise.
Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said the P2 billion Women’s Enterprise Fund is nearing full utilization on strong demand. The fund offers a 1-year grace period with no principal or interest payments to help women start or expand businesses.
Roque said the Department of Trade and Industry and SBCorp are studying the launch of a supplementary financing program to expand support for women-led businesses.
