The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is sweetening the deal for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), pairing a P12.9B loan fund with stronger export support as it pushes more Filipino businesses to scale up and compete globally.
Speaking at the MSME Summit 2026, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the government is expanding access to financing, mentoring, market linkages and trade promotion to help entrepreneurs grow beyond the local market.
At the heart of the package is the P12.9 billion lending program of the Small Business Corp. (SB Corp.), which offers loans of up to P5 million without collateral. Borrowers also receive a one-year grace period on principal and interest payments, with repayment terms of five to 10 years, making expansion capital more accessible for smaller businesses.
Roque urged entrepreneurs to tap DTI’s nationwide network of 18 regional offices, 1,344 Negosyo Centers, and the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) program, which has trained more than 16,000 entrepreneurs over the past decade in partnership with Go Negosyo.
She also encouraged MSMEs to use DTI’s free trade fairs to connect with institutional buyers, wholesalers and international importers, turning local products into export opportunities.
With the Philippines hosting ASEAN in 2026, Roque said the timing is favorable for businesses looking overseas. She pointed to the country’s double-digit export growth this year and ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with the European Union, Canada, Chile and Japan, which could unlock even bigger markets for Philippine-made products.
Organized by Go Negosyo with DTI, the MSME Development Council and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines, the summit drew more than 1,000 entrepreneurs under the theme “Empowering MSMEs for ASEAN Prosperity.”
The message was simple. With easier access to financing and broader export opportunities, the government is betting that more MSMEs can grow into globally competitive businesses that generate jobs and drive the economy.
