As a vital segment of the micro, small, and medium enterprise sector, women entrepreneurs remain key drivers of growth but often face barriers that limit their potential. Chief among these is limited access to financial capital, which continues to be a primary hurdle to their success.
To support women entrepreneurs in securing financing to grow their businesses, Asialink Finance Corp. in July launched the Women’s Access to Inclusive Support (WAIS) loan.
Flexible, inclusive, and built for growth
With the support of Asian Development Bank and International Finance Corp., the WAIS loan allows women-led medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) to borrow up to P20 million, depending on collateral and repayment terms.
Rates start at 0.99 percent, with flexible repayment options of up to 60 months without the need for post-dated checks.
“The WAIS Loan is our response to a financing gap that has long been overlooked, especially for women-led MSMEs. What sets WAIS apart is its inclusive eligibility framework: it empowers women operating under diverse business structures, whether as sole proprietors, partners, or corporate leaders, expanding access to capital and enabling more women to elevate their ventures,” says Eleanor Yap, chief operating officer of Asialink Finance Corp.
P500M worth loans
Since the launch of WAIS loan, Asialink has disbursed more than P500 million to women entrepreneurs across the country. Leveraging the company's extensive network of 250 branches nationwide, 1,025 women have already accessed the product without incurring additional travel costs.
It has provided capital to expand businesses in industries ranging from retail and services to agribusiness. The surge in demand affirms the capacity of women-led MSMEs to drive progress and the need for more financial tools that enable them to thrive.
“Our growth shows the strong demand for financing solutions designed for women-led MSMEs, a sector that drives inclusive economic development,” says Samuel Cariño, president and CEO of Asialink Finance Corp.
The financial product has contributed to Asialink’s strong performance this year, reaching about P1 billion in total loan disbursements across its portfolio. Women-owned MSMEs now make up 57 percent of Asialink’s portfolio, underscoring their role in driving local enterprises.
Financial sustainability
Yap adds that maintaining a healthy loan portfolio is central to Asialink’s operations. Its nonperforming loan ratio remains low at 1.5 percent, underscoring the strength and stability of its portfolio.
“We closely track these metrics and apply a proactive, multi-layered credit risk management framework to ensure long-term sustainability,” she says in an email interview with InsiderPH.
To assess the creditworthiness of borrowers, Yap says Asialink implements a program that equips credit officers with the skills to assess and reconstruct borrowers’ financial positions, even without formal financial statements.
Since many underserved entrepreneurs cannot meet traditional bank requirements, officers gather alternative data—such as invoices, sales records, and bank deposits—to build a clear picture of each borrower’s financial capacity.
Maintaining a strong and resilient capital base, she says, ensures that Asialink will achieve its long-term goals.
“We adhere to a prudent capital adequacy model, continuously monitoring our key financial metrics to manage risk and support future growth. Our approach is designed to balance robust capitalization with efficient use of resources,” she adds.
Wais loan ambassador
To further enhance the visibility and impact of the WAIS loan, Asialink partnered with actress and TV host Jolina Magdangal as the product’s official ambassador.
“With Jolina as our ambassador, we aim to strengthen the visibility and impact of the WAIS Loan, enabling more Filipina entrepreneurs to access the capital they need to expand, create jobs, and contribute to nation-building,” says Cariño.
Magdangal, who has also ventured into business, is widely regarded as a relatable voice for Filipino women. Through her partnership with WAIS, she hopes to inspire more women to confidently pursue entrepreneurship.
“Seeing what the WAIS Loan has accomplished in such a short time is truly inspiring. It proves that when women are given access to the right financial tools, they can turn ideas into businesses and businesses into livelihoods,” she says.
Yap underscores the importance of developing more innovative products to be able to fill the financing gap and effectively connect with the underserved MSMEs, particularly women entrepreneurs.
From financing gaps to a nationwide impact
“The gap between their needs and their access to financing is still very wide. That’s why our focus now is on developing innovative products, strengthening repayment support, and expanding delivery channels to ensure our solutions truly reach those who need them most,” she adds.
She says that Asialink’s three to five year growth strategy centers on four pillars: strategic expansion, product innovation, market penetration, and strategic partnerships, to drive sustainable and profitable growth.
Founded in 1997, Asialink has grown into a nationwide network with 2,000 employees, 5,000 loan consultants, and over 250 branches. Guided by its core values and mission to “help someone today,” it provides accessible financial solutions to both businesses and individuals, particularly in underserved sectors, with a vision to become Asia’s most preferred nonbank financial institution by 2030.
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