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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Banking & Finance devider PNB, Discovery Capital team up to expand SME financing nationwide

PNB, Discovery Capital team up to expand SME financing nationwide

Published Dec 19, 2025 02:22 pm
PNB and Discovery Capital Finance Corp. formalize a partnership to scale up SME financing across the country. From left to right: Engr. Allan Yumul, Discovery Chief Technology Officer; Trizza Anne Marie Martino, Discovery Chief Financial Officer; Luigi Martino, Discovery Chief Operating Officer; Diosdado Salang, Jr., Discovery President & CEO; Sherlyn Nicolas, PNB Head, South Luzon Commercial Banking Division; Mildred Alcantara, PNB Head, Calabarzon Business Center; and Keith Joshua Dumpit, PNB Relationship Manager.
PNB and Discovery Capital Finance Corp. formalize a partnership to scale up SME financing across the country. From left to right: Engr. Allan Yumul, Discovery Chief Technology Officer; Trizza Anne Marie Martino, Discovery Chief Financial Officer; Luigi Martino, Discovery Chief Operating Officer; Diosdado Salang, Jr., Discovery President & CEO; Sherlyn Nicolas, PNB Head, South Luzon Commercial Banking Division; Mildred Alcantara, PNB Head, Calabarzon Business Center; and Keith Joshua Dumpit, PNB Relationship Manager.
The Lucio Tan Group’s (LTG) lender, Philippine National Bank (PNB), has entered into a strategic partnership with Discovery Capital Finance Corp. (DCFC) through the signing of a loan facility agreement to boost financial support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The new loan facility leverages the combined strengths of PNB—one of the country’s largest and most respected financial institutions—and DCFC’s agile, specialized financing capabilities. The loan size is subject to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
The facility is designed to provide DCFC with additional funding capacity, which it will use to extend more flexible and accessible financing solutions to its growing base of SME clients.
This move aligns with PNB’s sustained commitment to the SME sector, often referred to as the backbone of the Philippine economy.
“Our agreement with PNB is a clear signal of DCFC’s commitment to financial inclusion for the underserved business community,” said DCFC President Diosdado Chua Salang Jr.
He added that, “By partnering with institutions like PNB, we can effectively amplify our reach beyond our branches, ensuring that crucial capital flows into regional economies where it is needed most.”
The PNB-DCFC loan facility is expected to expand DCFC’s reach, as its specialized knowledge and localized presence—combined with PNB’s financial muscle—will make SME loans more accessible to businesses in the provinces and in areas outside major metropolitan hubs.
The funding will be primarily used for working capital loans, helping SMEs finance inventory, fulfill large contracts, purchase new equipment, and manage cash flow more effectively.
By providing capital, the partnership aims to empower small businesses to execute their expansion plans, which in turn could lead to increased production, more employment opportunities, and greater contributions to the local tax base.
For many SMEs, access to capital remains the biggest hurdle to expansion, especially for those lacking collateral or a long credit history. This partnership seeks to help bridge that gap.
In the Philippines, the SME sector accounts for over 99 percent of all registered businesses but often receives a disproportionately small share of formal bank lending. Initiatives such as the PNB-DCFC facility are vital in correcting this imbalance.
The collaboration reflects a growing trend of major banks partnering with non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) and finance companies to penetrate niche markets and improve overall market efficiency.
For DCFC, the PNB facility serves as a stamp of confidence, lowering its cost of funds and enabling it to offer more competitive rates to borrowers.
The signing of the loan facility marks a significant step toward creating a more financially inclusive landscape for Filipino entrepreneurs and their businesses.

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Philippine National Bank Discovery Capital Finance Corporation Diosdado Chua Salang Jr.
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