Good news for the Philippines! The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is planning to provide around $15 billion in support over the next three years.
“We expect our annual help, including cofinancing, to surpass $5 billion in 2025, aiming for a total of $15 billion between 2026 and 2028. This showcases the government’s ambitious development plans and the strength of our partnership,” ADB President Masato Kanda shared in a statement.
“The Philippines holds a special place for us as the home of ADB’s headquarters and one of our closest partners.”
This announcement follows a meeting on November 25 between Mr. Kanda and the new Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go, where they reaffirmed the strong collaboration between the bank and the Philippine government. The ADB chief emphasized their commitment to backing the administration’s governance and anticorruption efforts, noting that transparency and public trust are crucial for driving development.
Additionally, the ADB is gearing up to offer comprehensive technical and financial support for the Philippines’ leadership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.
In 2024, the ADB ranked as the Philippines’ second-largest development partner, providing $11.05 billion in loans and grants, just behind Japan’s $13.32 billion.
Mr. Kanda also mentioned that the ADB is stepping up its support for the private sector, with an exciting $400-million program set to encourage a modern, tech-savvy business environment.
Moreover, the ADB invested $100 million as a lead investor in the Maynilad Water Services Inc. initial public offering, helping to modernize water systems and strengthen the Philippines’ equity capital markets.
On top of that, the Philippines is gaining from ADB’s transaction advisory services for public-private partnerships. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante
