DBP Extends ₱3.5B Loan for Camarines Sur Development
The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has extended a ₱3.5-billion term loan facility to the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, financing 112 priority development projects aimed at accelerating growth in one of the Bicol region’s largest provinces. The agreement, signed on February 20, 2026 under DBP’s Assistance for Economic and Social Development (ASENSO) for LGUs Financing Program, is expected to bolster infrastructure, healthcare, education, and agriculture for roughly two million residents.
Funding 112 Projects Across Key Sectors
The loan will bankroll a wide network of initiatives, including the construction of healthcare facilities and hospitals, new school buildings, improved road networks, and upgraded agricultural facilities. Provincial officials have identified these projects as critical to improving public services and stimulating local enterprise.
For many communities spread across Camarines Sur’s far-flung towns, new roads could mean shorter travel times for farmers transporting rice, coconut, and vegetables to market. Expanded healthcare facilities aim to bring treatment closer to barangays, reducing the need for long journeys to urban centers. Additional classrooms are intended to ease congestion in public schools, while agricultural infrastructure is expected to strengthen food production and rural livelihoods.
Part of a Broader National Lending Program
The Camarines Sur facility forms part of DBP’s ASENSO program, a financing initiative aligned with the Philippine Development Plan and designed to strengthen local government units (LGUs). As of end-November 2025, DBP reported approving more than ₱165 billion in loans for 451 borrowers under the program.
The state-owned bank, established to support priority sectors under its charter, focuses on infrastructure, social services, community development, and support for micro, small, and medium enterprises. Through ASENSO, DBP channels capital to LGUs seeking to expand basic services and local economic capacity.
DBP: Investment in People and Infrastructure
DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Michael de Jesus underscored the broader social aim of the agreement.
“DBP takes pride in assisting the Camarines Sur provincial government in projects that will improve the lives of Camarinenses — from strengthening infrastructure and improving healthcare delivery, to fostering education and expanding access to essential social services and livelihood opportunities,” de Jesus said.
He added: “DBP continues to recognize and fully support initiatives that seek to maintain or even accelerate the momentum in local development while ensuring that communities continue to thrive and evolve.”
In a separate statement, he emphasized support for the province’s population, noting the bank “takes pride in supporting Camarines Sur in projects aimed at improving the lives of the province’s two million residents, including infrastructure development, better healthcare services, enhanced education, and wider access to social services and livelihood programs.”
Economic Ripples Beyond the Capital
Camarines Sur, the largest province in Bicol by land area and population, plays a central role in the region’s agriculture and trade. Yet like many provinces outside Metro Manila, it continues to grapple with infrastructure gaps and uneven access to public services.
The infusion of capital functions much like reinforcing the beams of a large structure: stronger roads can ease the flow of goods; expanded hospitals can relieve pressure on overburdened clinics; new schools can shape a more skilled workforce; and improved farm facilities can raise productivity across rural communities.
While no detailed project timeline has been publicly released, the term loan is expected to roll out across multiple phases as the provincial government undertakes procurement and implementation.
Strengthening LGU Financing
The Camarines Sur loan signals DBP’s continued push to deepen partnerships with local governments seeking long-term financing for essential infrastructure and social development projects. With more than ₱165 billion already approved under ASENSO nationwide, the bank positions itself as a critical funding conduit for provinces aiming to translate national growth strategies into tangible, on-the-ground improvements.
For Camarines Sur’s residents — from farmers in upland towns to families in coastal barangays — the ₱3.5-billion facility represents a significant financial backing for projects that provincial leaders say will shape the region’s development trajectory in the years ahead.
