With only four percent of the total women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) having access to formal financing, Manila-based Asialink Finance Corporation (AFC) has launched its fresh loan product to plug this gap.

“Women entrepreneurs can borrow up to ₱20 million depending on collateral and repayment duration,” Asialink said in a statement released recently. Asialink noted that this loan product targets the women-led businesses that are deprived of funding, “often due to lack of collateral, rigid lending criteria, or deep-rooted gender biases.”

The loan, called the Women’s Access to Inclusive Support (WAIS) loan, features rates as low as 0.99 percent, flexible terms of up to 36 months, and does not require post-dated checks.

“It supports women across various business structures, whether as sole proprietors, partners, or corporate leaders—ensuring that more women are empowered to secure funding and scale their operations,” Asialink said.

At Asialink, we’ve seen their resilience and potential up close,” said

Asialink President and CEO Samuel Cariño said women-led businesses are “the quiet engines of our economy.” As such, the loan product, he said, aims to improve women’s access to financing and support their role in business and community development.

According to Asialink, the launch of WAIS loan is part of the lender’s expansion efforts and partnerships. The company recently raised over $245 million from global institutions such as the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank Group (WBG) member International Finance Corporation (IFC), with a large share allocated for women-led MSMEs.

As of now, Asialink has over 250 branches across the country. Last year, the company disbursed over ₱15.5 billion in loans, 77 percent of which supported MSMEs.

Last year, the company disbursed over ₱15.5 billion in loans, 77 percent of which supported MSMEs. An increasing share of these loans feature inclusive terms, such as flexible repayment, easier application processes, and targeted products like WAIS.

“As we look ahead, we remain grounded in our purpose to enable improved lives through financing that is not just fast or convenient, but meaningful,” Cariño said.