The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT), launched the Turismo Asenso Loan Program (TALP), a financing initiative that will help tourism micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to expand their operations and generate more jobs across tourism-linked industries nationwide.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial awarding of loans where P3.38 million in financing was awarded to nine tourism-related MSMEs.
The first batch of beneficiaries, approved by the DTI’s financing arm Small Business Corporation, includes wellness spas, resorts, and travel and tour agencies from Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and Metro Manila, with loan packages ranging from P150,000 to P1 million.
Jointly developed by DTI and DOT under a memorandum of agreement signed in April 2025, TALP provides MSMEs with low-interest loans of up to P20 million, with repayment terms of up to five years and an interest rate of one percent per month on a diminishing balance.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the partnership with DOT reflects the whole-of-government approach to supporting one of the country’s most labor-intensive industries.
“By helping our tourism MSMEs, we are not only sustaining businesses but also securing livelihoods for countless Filipinos whose income depends on this sector.”
“Tourism supports millions of jobs across hotels, transport, food, and local services. By helping our tourism MSMEs, we are not only sustaining businesses but also securing livelihoods for countless Filipinos whose income depends on this sector,” Roque explained.
“DTI is working closely with DOT to ensure that trade and enterprise development efforts directly translate into more jobs and opportunities for Filipinos.”
She added that DTI is working closely with DOT to ensure that trade and enterprise development efforts directly translate into more jobs and opportunities for Filipinos.
In 2024, total expenditure from international and domestic visitors reached P3.86 trillion, equivalent to 8.9 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
The sector directly employed 6.75 million Filipinos and indirectly supported nearly 10 million more.
The ceremonial awarding also marked the start of a nationwide campaign encouraging more MSMEs to avail of TALP, intended as a lifeline for enterprises ready to recover, innovate, and expand.
Tourism entrepreneurs are also urged to take advantage of this opportunity and apply now through the DTI-SBCorp Money Mobile App (https://app.sbcorp.ph).
