THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed $143.3 million (roughly P8.839 billion) for private-sector operations in the Philippines last year, with $109.4 million (about P6.746 billion at current exchange rates) in capital mobilized alongside the financing, according to a new report.
In its ‘Private Sector Operations in 2025: Report on Development Effectiveness’ released last Tuesday, the ADB said $129.8 million was in long-term financing, which mobilized $95.8 million, while $13.6 million was in short-term financing, with the same amount mobilized. Among the Philippine transactions listed in the report was ‘Project Tulip,’ ADB’s investment in the initial public offering (IPO) of Maynilad Water Services Inc.
The ADB committed $100 million from its own resources to the IPO, while another $45 million was invested through the ADB-administered ‘Leap 2’ facility, bringing the ADB’s total investment to $145 million.
Maynilad’s IPO raised P34.3 billion, or about $607 million, with 97 percent of the proceeds reserved for its capital expenditure program, including improvements to raw water conveyance, sewer coverage, and wastewater treatment facilities.
The report also listed a $29.8 million peso-denominated loan to Fuse Financing Inc., the lending arm of G-Xchange Inc., for its online lending platform. The ADB said at least 60 percent of the proceeds will be directed to micro-sized, small-scale, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) owned or led by women, while 50 percent will go to businesses operating in provinces with high poverty incidence.
Other Philippine transactions listed by the ADB included the project of Asialink Finance Corp. to expand SME financing through secured vehicle lending. The transaction also included the ADB Ventures investment in Nibertex Pte. Ltd.
Across its developing member countries, the ADB committed 49 private-sector projects last year, down from 58 projects in 2024.
Despite the lower number of projects, committed project financing increased to $3.097 billion from $2.614 billion.
Total financing for private investment reached $9.5 billion, 38-percent higher than in 2024, while direct private capital mobilization rose 31 percent to $4.7 billion, the report said.
The ADB said its 2025 private-sector operations covered areas including renewable energy, digital infrastructure, waste management, education, health, and access to finance.
The bank also committed $1.6 billion in climate financing, equivalent to 69 percent of its committed private-sector projects during the year.