Filipino Small Businesses Get New Green Finance Tool

Small business owners in the Philippines now have a clear path to access the green financing that's been out of reach for too long.

Ant International, the International Finance Corporation, and GCash just launched the country's first Sustainability Impact Scorecard designed specifically for micro, small, and medium enterprises. The digital tool helps business owners measure their environmental and social impact using simple metrics tailored to the Philippine market.

The timing couldn't be better. Small businesses make up 99.6% of companies in the Philippines and employ over two-thirds of the workforce, yet most struggle to access the financing they need to grow. The scorecard changes that by giving these businesses a way to prove their sustainability practices to investors and lenders.

Think of it as a credibility passport. The scorecard translates complex global environmental, social, and governance standards into accessible insights that Filipino entrepreneurs can actually use. Business owners can track their sustainability performance through the GCash ecosystem they already know and trust.

"For MSMEs, this is a game changer," said Winsley Bangit, GCash Group Head for New Businesses. "It provides visibility into their environmental and social impact and credibility that can attract green capital and partnerships."

The partnership grew out of discussions at COP30 in Brazil and builds on Ant International's Programme Sirius, launched in 2024 to help small businesses take their first steps toward sustainability. GCash serves as the pilot partner, bringing the global commitments made at climate conferences down to practical, on-the-ground solutions.

The Ripple Effect

When small businesses thrive sustainably, entire communities benefit. The scorecard doesn't just track environmental metrics but also measures social impact, recognizing that true sustainability weaves together environmental, economic, and social progress.

The pilot program will roll out in phases across the Philippines, starting with ecosystem assessments and stakeholder engagement before expanding to field testing. Success stories from the Philippines could inform scaling across the entire Asia-Pacific region, potentially helping millions more small businesses join the sustainable economy.

Christina Ongoma from IFC's Financial Institutions Group puts it simply: "By equipping them with the right tools, we can strengthen resilience, support adaptation, and enable sustainable growth at scale."

Filipino entrepreneurs are about to show the world how small businesses can lead the green transition.