Financial access push helps Filipino entrepreneurs scale businesses

Insider Spotlight

• Filipino entrepreneurs are driven by family and personal goals as much as profit
• MSMEs continue to face gaps in access to formal credit nationwide
• Financing programs are evolving to support both business growth and household needs
  
  

Filipino entrepreneurs are scaling their businesses by gaining wider access to financing that reflects not just commercial ambitions, but deeply personal motivations tied to family and long-term security.

A recent study by Boston Consulting Group and the Department of Trade and Industry shows that entrepreneurship in the Philippines is often purpose-driven. 

About 64 percent of MSME owners start businesses to support their families, while others are motivated by passion projects or funding their children’s education, underscoring the need for more inclusive and flexible financial products.

Why it matters

Micro, small, and medium enterprises account for more than 99 percent of registered businesses in the country, yet many still struggle to secure formal credit. 

Limited access to financing constrains their ability to invest in equipment, expand operations, or manage rising operating costs, particularly amid economic uncertainty.

What’s happening

Financial institutions such as Asialink Finance Corp. are aligning loan programs with the realities faced by Filipino MSMEs. 

Its offerings, ranging from truck and car loans to real estate mortgages and the Women’s Access to Inclusive Support Loan, are designed to help entrepreneurs grow while supporting personal and family goals .

“MSMEs are critical not only to the economy, but to the lives of millions of Filipino families. Our financing programs are designed to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses while securing their personal and family goals,” Samuel Cariño, president and CEO of Asialink Finance Corp., said in a press release.

On the ground

In Las Piñas City, trucking entrepreneur Joey Kaong expanded his fleet through Asialink’s truck financing program, improving delivery efficiency and meeting higher customer demand. 

“Investing in a truck has elevated the quality and speed of our services. It’s not just a business investment, but is a step toward securing my family’s future,” Kaong said.

Meanwhile in Cardona, Rizal, a sari-sari store owner used financing to keep inventory stocked despite rising supply costs, helping stabilize daily income and serve the community more consistently. 

Other entrepreneurs have leveraged loans to grow multi-business ventures, from hardware stores to salons and spas, turning passion into sustainable livelihoods.

The bigger picture

Accessible financing enables MSMEs to balance business expansion with household needs, from managing daily expenses to investing in long-term assets. 

As lenders expand their reach and tailor products nationwide, improved financial access is emerging as a key driver of inclusive growth.

Asialink says its focus remains on providing fast, reliable, and customer-focused financial solutions that help entrepreneurs scale with confidence, benefiting not just businesses, but families and communities across the Philippines. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma