PHILGUARANTEE highlights MSME credit guarantee programs at EDC-BSP Financing Forum
The Philippine Guarantee Corporation (PHILGUARANTEE) showcased its key credit guarantee programs designed to broaden access to capital for small businesses during the national financing forum, “Bridging the Gap: Aligning Policy, Programs, and MSME Financing Needs,” held on September 11, 2026, at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Assembly Hall in Malate, Manila.
Jointly organized by the Export Development Council – Networking Committee on Finance (EDC-NCF) and the BSP, the forum convened leaders from government, partner banks, and trade organizations to address structural credit hurdles facing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide.
Representing President and CEO Alberto Pascual, Celso Gutierrez, Special Assistant to the President and CEO, served as panelist in the opening session that focused on institutional programs, policy interventions, and financing solutions for local enterprises.
During the discussion, Gutierrez underscored the state guarantee institution’s role in mitigating credit risk for banking partners, encouraging financial institutions to extend crucial funding to MSMEs, key export channels, and priority business sectors across the country.
“We started the MSME program of PHILGUARANTEE when we were merged in 2019. From barely 57 million of loans and about 2,000 MSMEs, we have grown our support to more than 13.6 billion to 71,000 MSMEs assisted,” Gutierrez noted. “Now with MSMEs, we’re still learning a lot and we support from micro enterprises all the way to large corporations. We’re actually focusing our efforts for the private banks who lend to the MSME sector.”
The forum featured leaders from government agencies and monetary authorities, including BSP Deputy Governor Zeno Ronald Abenoja and BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. Joining Gutierrez on the panel were senior executives from the Small Business Corporation (SBCorp), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), and Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines.
Alongside its panel participation, PHILGUARANTEE also hosted an information booth throughout the day-long event to cater to direct MSME inquiries, and offer guidance on available guarantee facilities.
As an attached government-owned and controlled corporation under the Department of Finance (DOF), PHILGUARANTEE continues to collaborate with financial partners to expand credit access and drive sustainable economic development.
