As the winner of the Merit Award, the Bank’s online account opening system was recognized for its support to the Bank’s thrust of financial inclusion for farmers and fishers, as well as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), by providing them with an additional access point to financial services.

Through DOBS, account opening time has shortened from 30 minutes to 10 minutes. Everyone may enroll online in the comfort of their homes or offices prior to proceeding to the branch to complete the account application and to pick-up their LANDBANK card. Such process also allows lobby traffic in branches to be reduced.

Meanwhile, the Bank’s Green Climate Finance Project was recognized under the Environmental Development category. LANDBANK is the first and only Direct Access Entity (DAE) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in the country. The GCF is an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Paris Agreement, dedicated in supporting global efforts to respond to the challenge of climate change. The project aims to help developing countries to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change by supporting projects that promote a paradigm shift to low-emission and climate resilient development, while considering the needs of developing countries that are vulnerable to climate change impacts.

As the country’s only DAE at present, the Bank is tasked to oversee, manage, monitor, and mobilize funds from the GCF to finance mitigation, adaptation, and resiliency projects falling within the Philippines’ priority projects.