At $6.8B, PH got biggest slice of ADB funding in 2025

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) stepped up its financial support for the Philippines in 2025, aiming to help its host country confront a widening set of development challenges amid global trade tensions, climate risks and governance concerns.

In its annual report released on Thursday, the bank said it had provided $6.8 billion in loans, grants and cofinancing to the Philippines, nearly 12 percent more than a year earlier.

The country received the largest share of ADB funding, followed by India with $6.4 billion.

Of the total, $4.1 billion was lent to the government to finance seven programs and projects: Malolos–Clark Railway (Tranche 2); Business and Employment Recovery Program (Subprogram 2); Insurance Reform Program (Subprogram 1); Second Disaster Resilience Improvement Program; Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers; Marine Ecosystems for Blue Economy Development Program (Subprogram 1); and Business Environment Strengthening with Technology Program (Subprogram 1).

The private sector received $129.8 million in financing, including a $29.8 million loan to Fuse Financing Inc., the lending arm of GCash, and a $100 million equity investment tied to the initial public offering of Project Tulip.

Philippine firms also obtained $13.6 million through the bank’s program providing AAA-rated guarantees and loans.

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The country also received $2.6 billion in cofinancing from ADB, which collaborated with other funders in bankrolling projects and programs in the country.

Across the region, ADB committed $29.3 billion from its own resources in 2025, up 20 percent from a year earlier, alongside $14.7 billion mobilized from partners to help Asia and the Pacific navigate change and turn challenges into opportunities.

Private sector development was a key priority for ADB in 2025, comprising $5.5 billion of its commitments, while half of its public sector commitments directly supported infrastructure, reforms and institutions to unlock private investments.