Small businesses in Sablayan, Mindoro are gaining direct access to low-cost financing as the government brings its loan programs closer to entrepreneurs through an on-site application drive.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its financing arm Small Business Corporation (SB Corp.), launched a loan application roadshow in partnership with the local government of Sablayan and the House Committee on MSME Development. The initiative aims to help micro, small, and medium enterprises secure additional capital without the usual barriers tied to formal lending.

Officials said the program introduces entrepreneurs to available credit facilities with more affordable interest rates, enabling them to expand operations, replenish inventory, or stabilize cash flow.

The move highlights the government’s continued focus on strengthening MSMEs, which account for more than 99 percent of businesses nationwide and play a critical role in employment and local economic activity.

The roadshow also supports broader legislative and policy efforts to enhance financing access for small enterprises, including measures linked to the Magna Carta for MSMEs and the Pondo para sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program.

Organizers said bringing financial services directly to communities like Sablayan is part of a wider push to make government support more accessible, particularly in areas where small business owners often face challenges in securing formal credit.