Sterling Bank of Asia and Philippine Guarantee Corporation Formalize Partnership to Expand Home Financing Access

 

Sterling Bank of Asia (SBA) and the Philippine Guarantee Corporation (PhilGuarantee) have officially sealed their partnership, marking the launch of a ₱5-billion Housing Retail Guarantee Facility. This collaboration combines the strengths of the public and private sector to broaden home financing access for Filipino families.

From left to right: Teresito Cayo A. Butardo (SVP & Housing Guarantee Group Head, PhilGuarantee);
Alberto E. Pascual (President & CEO, PhilGuarantee); Cecilio Paul San Pedro (President & CEO, Sterling Bank of Asia); and Candice P. Quianzon (SVP & Head of Real Estate Loans 1, Sterling Bank of Asia)

A Strategic Vision for Greater Access

PhilGuarantee President and CEO Alberto E. Pascual and SBA President and CEO Cecilio Paul San Pedro led the signing ceremony, highlighting institutional synergy and a shared vision for community impact.

“In banking, partnerships matter. No single institution can address every challenge on its own. But when organizations with complementary mandates come together, the decisions made in boardrooms can create opportunities that reach far beyond our institutions — and into the communities we ultimately serve,” said Mr. San Pedro.

Enabling Responsible and Inclusive Lending

The Housing Retail Guarantee Facility serves as a vital credit risk mitigation tool. By providing this mechanism, PhilGuarantee enables SBA to extend housing loans with increased confidence, balancing inclusive lending with sound risk management.

San Pedro noted that this facility reinforces the bank's core mission to support Filipino aspirations while ensuring that lending remains prudent, sustainable, and focused on long-term economic development. “We are not merely financing properties. We are helping build stronger communities and contributing to the long-term development of our economy,” he added.

Beyond Banking: Building Futures

For SBA, home financing is rooted in the fundamental Filipino value of stability. The partnership recognizes that a home is a foundation for family growth and dignity.

“A home is not simply a physical structure. It is where families grow, where values are nurtured, and where the future of each family member quietly takes shape,” San Pedro shared.

Creating Shared Opportunity

The collaboration also signals a shift in how institutions approach growth — not only by managing risk, but by creating shared opportunities.

Both institutions, operating under the regulatory framework of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, reaffirm their commitment to responsible financing, sound governance, and inclusive economic progress.

As the ₱5-billion facility takes effect, SBA and PhilGuarantee remain committed to opening doors for Filipino families, providing the security and hope that come with homeownership. “When a family receives the keys to a home, it is more than the opening of a door. It is the beginning of a new chapter of security and hope.” San Pedro concluded.