Update, April 2023: Turismo Loan and HEROES Loan are no longer listed under DTI loans and SB Corp MSME loans.
Micro-enterprises, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprise 99% of businesses in the Philippines. With their immeasurable economic contributions, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) aims to nurture them into becoming more resilient and competitive. One way DTI accomplishes this is by providing DTI loans.
DTI loans are primarily offered through DTI’s financing arm, Small Business Corporation (SB Corp). Most DTI business loans are meant to finance MSME growth, while some are designed to help entrepreneurs mitigate the economic effects of the pandemic. Startup business loans and a capital program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are also available.
DTI online loan applications are available at SB Corp’s official website, SB Corp Borrower Registration System (BRS). In fact, DTI no longer accepts in-person application in their offices.
To apply, create an account at their website, choose the small business corporation DTI loan below that you are applying for in the website options, and complete the online DTI loan application form. Depending on the loan you want, you may be asked to upload documents at this stage, or upload documents after your initial application is reviewed.
After submitting your DTI loan application form, an SB Corp officer should reach out to you in a few days. The loan officer will ask you to send additional documents, or clarify some details in your application form. For instance, some applicants may be asked to lower their loan amount request if their financials do not match; some are asked to apply for a more appropriate program for their industry or needs.
DTI business loan requirements vary depending on the loan you are taking. Most require the following:
See the full list of DTI business loan requirements here.
Here are the available DTI loans for small businesses as of 2023.
DTI Loans for Established MSMEs in any sector
· RISE UP Micro Multi-Purpose Loan
· RISE UP Multi-Purpose Loan for SME First-Time Borrowers
· RISE UP Multi-Purpose Suki Loans
DTI Loans for Priority Sectors
· RISE UP Tindahan Loans
DTI Startup Development Programs
This DTI business loan is the most accessible to micro-enterprises, because it’s open to any registered businesses in operation for even just a year. However, the maximum loan amount of ₱300,000 can be low for MSMEs that need the money for rapid expansion or bigger purchases.
Type of loan: Unsecured term loan
Who can avail: Multi-sectoral micro-enterprises in business for at least 1 year
Maximum Loanable Amount: Up to ₱300,000
Basis of Loan Amount: Up to 20% of existing business asset
Loan Term: Payable monthly up to 3 years
Interest Rate: 12% per annum
This DTI loan offers a maximum amount of ₱2 million, a long repayment period of 3 years, and grace period on principal up to 1 year. However, it has a 3-year business duration requirement that may be harder to meet.
If you have been in business for less than 3 years, try applying for First Circle’s Revolving Credit Line. Aside from a fast and free application process, businesses of any age with at least ₱5 million in annual revenue may apply.
Type of loan: Unsecured term loan
Who can avail: Multi-sectoral SMEs in business for at least 3 years
Maximum Loanable Amount: Up to ₱2 million
Basis of Loan Amount: 15% of prior year sales, based on BIR-filed FS
Loan Term: Payable monthly up to 3 years
Interest Rate: 12% per annum
This loan is exclusive to registered SB Corp borrowers only. You can choose between non-collateral and collateral options, and borrow up to ₱10 million. However, the collateral Suki loan has a longer application process due to the additional government requirements. A secured loan also puts the borrower at a higher risk, since you can lose your real estate asset if you default on your loan.
Type of loan: Unsecured and secured term loan
Who can avail: Existing SB Corp borrowers in good standing only
Maximum Loanable Amount: Up to ₱5 million for unsecured; up to ₱10 million for secured
Basis of Loan Amount: Latest approved loan; up to 15% of prior year sales, based on BIR-filed FS
Loan Term: Payable monthly up to 5 years
Interest Rate: Up to 12% per annum
In 2022, DTI launched special financing for the tourism sector and stores, retailers, dealers and distributors association with fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). These are the RISE UP Turismo and RISE UP Tindahan loans; however, the Turismo loans were phased out in 2023.
This DTI loan is limited to sari-sari stores, retail stores, and dealers and distributors that sell fast-moving consumer goods, or FMCG, and are partners of SB Corp-registered FMCG companies. There are two loans under the program: RISE UP Micro Tindahan for microenterprises and RISE UP SME Tindahan for SMEs.
Type of loan: Unsecured term loan
Who can avail: Sari-sari stores with fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) accreditation; retail stores, dealers and distributors with FMCG accreditation
Loan Amount: Up to ₱300,000 for Micro Tindahan Loan; up to ₱5 million for SME Tindahan Loan
Basis of Loan Amount: 40% of annual sales with FMCG for microenterprises; 40% of annual sales with FMCG for retail stores; 15% of annual sales with FMCG for dealers and distributors
Loan Term: Payable monthly up to 3 years
Interest Rate: 10% for microenterprises; 8% for SMEs
To stimulate new technologies and digital transformation in the country, DTI has Startup Development Programs for MSMEs and early-stage / growth-stage startups. Some of them are:
A common theme among these growth financing programs is that they provide capital in exchange for equity to Filipino technology startups. DTI partners up with different venture capitalists or non-profit organizations for each program, so they have varying requirements, benefits, and capital on offer.
DTI is responsible for screening startup applicants to find the ones with the most innovative ideas, high sales projections, and high potential for investment. DTI helps these startups find new markets, venture capitalists, mentorship, and growth opportunities to help them scale up or globalize.
Should you get accepted to one of these programs, you must be willing to share decision-making and profit levels with the government as your business partner. Your partners may also ask for equity or a regular share of profits in exchange for funding.
If your startup fails, you must also allow DTI to take charge in any of these ways: redeem its capital, sell your company to a third party, or set it up for initial public offering. These exit strategies aim to minimize losses, as you’re not required to pay interest as traditional banks do.
Here are the general DTI business loan requirements for startups:
DTI business loans offer lower or even zero interest rates due to their primary duties of boosting the Philippine economy. However, because most DTI loans are non-collateral, loan amounts also tend to be lower than private lenders.
In addition, SB Corp also receives a large number of applications nationwide. On their Facebook page, SME applicants report that application processing and disbursement can take weeks or months. Some applicants mentioned having trouble with registration and transactions on SB Corp’s website and online loan application.
To augment your DTI loan and ensure you have enough funds for your business needs, let First Circle’s Revolving Credit Line help. Our non-collateral SME loan has the following benefits:
