PHILGUARANTEE Hosts 2-Day Study Mission and Knowledge Exchange with Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund of Nepal, Government of Koshi Province

State-owned Philippine Guarantee Corporation (PHILGUARANTEE) hosted officials from the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund (DCGF) Nepal and the Government of Koshi Province, along with representatives from Rastriya Banijya Bank, Global IME Bank Ltd., and the Udaya Project, for a two-day Study Mission and Knowledge Exchange on Credit Guarantee Systems last September 9-10, 2026.

The study mission was conducted in connection with the Udaya Project, which supports the development of a provincial-level credit guarantee scheme in Koshi Province, Nepal.

The activity brought together PHILGUARANTEE and Nepal delegates for discussions on credit guarantee systems and their roles in expanding access to financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The first day was held at the PHILGUARANTEE Headquarters in Makati City, featuring technical presentations and strategic discussions covering institutional overviews, program operations, governance, claims, and risk management. On the second day, the delegation proceeded to CARD SME Bank, Inc., A Thrift Bank, in San Pablo City, Laguna, for a field study showcasing the practical application of credit guarantee mechanisms in supporting MSME lending.

“For PHILGUARANTEE, this is also an opportunity to share our experiences while gaining valuable insights from Nepal as it continues to develop and strengthen its own credit guarantee system”, PCEO Pascual said.

“We believe that exchanges like this help build stronger partnerships and provide practical lessons that can be applied in both our countries”.

The visit forms part of DCGF Nepal’s study mission supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), following the implementation of a Credit Guarantee Scheme in Koshi Province in collaboration with Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI).

MOF Usec. Baral expressed her sincere appreciation to PHILGUARANTEE for hosting the study mission. She added, “I know this is beneficial for us to know about the current credit guarantee systems and other strategies, and what it needs for a successful implementation to the SMEs.”

During the technical sessions, PHILGUARANTEE officials, SVP Ian A. Briones, SVP Teresito Cayo A. Butardo, SVP Isabelo G. Gumaru, SVP Nelia O. Oandasan, SVP Emmanuel R. Torres, VP Emelita O. Santos, VP Raymund V. Togonon, and Mr. Celso R. Gutierrez shared the Corporation’s frameworks, sector-specific credit products, agriculture and housing guarantee portfolios, claims, recovery management, and risk protocols. These presentations highlighted how institutional consolidation, tailored product design, and rigorous risk management scale developmental finance across priority sectors while maintaining institutional stability.

DCGF CEO Giri expressed sincere gratitude to the PHILGUARANTEE team for the warm welcome and for hosting the two-day study mission.

During the second-day field study at CARD SME Bank, Inc., President and CEO Julius Adrian Alip personally joined the activity and welcomed the visiting delegates. Chief Risk Officer Jerry Montejo also extended the bank’s warm welcome and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to host the field study, adding that it was an honor for the bank to share its experience in leveraging its portfolio guarantee partnership with PHILGUARANTEE.

The delegation also visited selected SME clients, to observe how financing and credit guarantee mechanisms translate into tangible support for businesses. The two-day engagement reaffirmed the value of knowledge-sharing and international cooperation in strengthening credit guarantee institutions and promoting inclusive access to finance.