The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Small Business Corporation (SBCorp) today announced the official launch of the Turismo Asenso multipurpose loan program, making up to PHP20 million in financing available to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the tourism sector. This initiative, following a successful Memorandum of Agreement signing in April 2025 between the DOT and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), aims to provide crucial capital for tourism businesses to scale operations and enhance service quality for visitors.
The Turismo Asenso program is designed to empower tourism MSMEs by offering access to low-interest financing, directly addressing their need for capital to expand and improve their offerings.
“With tourism contributing 8.9% to our GDP and providing jobs to over 6.75 million Filipinos, our approach has always been to grow tourism as a powerful economic driver,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. “The Turismo Asenso loan program is part of this vision—giving our tourism MSMEs the capital they need to expand, hire more people, and improve services. This is real, accessible support for the entrepreneurs at the heart of our tourism economy. We thank DTI Secretary Cristina Roque and SBCorp for this partnership.”
Qualified applicants can avail of loans up to PHP20 million with a competitive interest rate of 1% per month on a diminishing balance basis. For non-collateral loans, new borrowers may access up to PHP3 million, while existing borrowers can qualify for loans of up to PHP5 million. The program also offers flexible repayment terms of up to five years.
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a Filipino-owned registered business or have at least 60 percent Filipino ownership.
- Possess a business track record of not less than one year.
- Have an asset size not exceeding PHP100 million, excluding the lot.
- Have no past due accounts in any of SBCorp’s programs and no major negative credit findings.
This strategic partnership between the DOT, DTI, and SBCorp underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a robust and resilient tourism industry, ensuring its continued contribution to the nation’s economic growth and employment.
