Features March 25, 2026

Government Programs to Help Your Business Grow This Year

Here is a rundown of Philippine government programs designed to fuel growth for entrepreneurs needing financial support.

Here is a rundown of Philippine government programs in 2026 designed to fuel growth for entrepreneurs needing financial support.

The Philippine government has implemented several recent initiatives to boost small businesses, mainly through expanded funding, digital access, and support frameworks.

Let’s take a look at some of these programs and how entrepreneurs can benefit from them.

Negosyo Center

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in January launched an upgrade of all of its Negosyo Centers nationwide with the unveiling of the Model Negosyo Center in the agency’s offices in Makati.

The model Negosyo Center provides streamlined services such as business name registration and Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE) processing.

The upgrade of over 1,300 Negosyo Centers provides MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) with a one-stop hub for digital tools, training programs, and business development resources.

Contact (087) 791 3137 or [email protected] for more information.

RISE UP

DTI also has a RISE UP Multi-Purpose Loan that provides collateral-free loans up to P5 million (and up to P20 million with collateral) for MSMEs that have been operating for at least one year.

The three products under it are:

Micro Multi-Purpose Loan - for multi-sectoral microenterprises
SME Multi-Purpose Loan Suki - for existing borrowers of SBCorp in good standing with at least 6 months repayment track record
SME Multi-Purpose Loan First-Timers - for multi-sectoral SMEs

For SME first-time borrowers, the requirements are:

a government-issued ID;
valid/unexpired BMBE Certificate of Authority or Mayor’s Permit;
pictures of business operations and assets;
corporate documents, if applicable;
bank account details; and a
Bureau of Internal Revenue-filed financial statement for the prior year reflecting positive net income and for the previous year, for a total of two (2) years.

Contact [email protected] for more information.

Kapatid Mentor Me

Kapatid Mentor Me unites the government with GoNegosyo to provide MSMEs with a "mini-MBA" program designed to scale their businesses.

It has had 7,337 mentee-graduates since its inception in 2016.

Contact [email protected] or +63 (2) 8637 9347 for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Philippine government programs are available for MSMEs in 2026?

Key programs include the DTI's upgraded Negosyo Centers offering one-stop business registration and development services, the RISE UP Multi-Purpose Loan providing collateral-free financing up to P5 million, the Kapatid Mentor Me business mentorship program, the DA-ACPC's Agri-Credit E-Portal 2.0 and Agri-Negosyo Loan for farmers and agri-MSMEs, and DOST's SETUP program for technology upgrades and equipment grants.

How much can MSMEs borrow under the DTI RISE UP loan program?

The RISE UP Multi-Purpose Loan offers collateral-free loans of up to P5 million for qualifying MSMEs, and up to P20 million with collateral. The program covers microenterprises, existing SBCorp borrowers in good standing, and first-time SME borrowers — each under a separate loan product with distinct eligibility requirements. First-time borrowers must have been operating for at least one year and provide BIR-filed financial statements showing positive net income for two consecutive years.

What is the Kapatid Mentor Me program and how can entrepreneurs join?

Kapatid Mentor Me is a government-backed mentorship program run in partnership with GoNegosyo that provides MSMEs with a structured business development curriculum described as a "mini-MBA." Since its launch in 2016, the program has produced 7,337 mentee-graduates. Entrepreneurs can reach the program through [email protected] or +63 (2) 8637 9347.

What is the DA-ACPC Agri-Negosyo Loan and who is eligible to apply?

The Agri-Negosyo Loan Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Credit Policy Council, provides capital financing for individual small farmers and fisherfolk, farmer and fisherfolk organizations, and MSMEs engaged in agriculture and fishery projects. Eligible uses include production, distribution, equipment acquisition, facility construction, processing, and marketing. Inquiries can be directed to [email protected] or (632) 8634-3320.

How does DOST's SETUP program support small businesses in the Philippines?

The Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) provides financial assistance for equipment upgrades, technology training, and consultancy services for small enterprises. DOST also operates ONeSTore.ph, an e-commerce platform to help enterprises — including OFW-owned businesses — expand their market reach online. The program generated approximately 3,300 jobs for women in 2023. Contact DOST-NCR at (02) 8837-2071 loc. 2030 or [email protected].

Rocky Teodoro

Writer

Rocky Teodoro is a writer and editor with 2 decades of experience. He has previously served as a senior manager for News and Research in S&P Global. He has also served as a managing editor for The Business Manual and a news editor for oil and gas portal Rigzone. In his editorial career, he also has stints as a technical writer, features writer, manuscript editor, and magazine contributor.

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