PH ranks fifth in WB financing

The Philippines was the World Bank Group’s (WBG) fifth-largest developing-country borrower during the Washington-based multilateral lender’s fiscal year (FY) 2025.

- By BEN ARNOLD DE VERA

Including the world’s poorest countries, the Philippines’ borrowings from the WBG during the FY covering the period July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, were the seventh-highest overall, amounting to $2.855 billion, according to the lender’s FY 2025 annual report published on Oct. 9.

Among clients of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the Philippines’ total loans in FY 2025 were only exceeded by Brazil’s $3.856 billion in commitments; Tiirkiye’s $3.791 billion; Argentina’s $3.73 billion; and war-torn Ukraine’s $3.142 billion.

IBRD is the WBG’s lending arm for developing countries like the Philippines.