The Department of Transportation (DOTr), alongside its attached agencies, the Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Philippine National Railways (PNR), will roll out with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) six (6) programs designed to modernize the country’s transportation systems and services.
The programs are the North-South Commuter Railway Extension (NSCR-Ex) Appraisal Project, Resettlement Action Plan Entitlements Distribution Mechanism, Distribution of Cash Subsidy for Operators, Automatic Fare Collection System–Pilot Production Testing, Support Package for Environment-friendly and Efficiently-Driven PUV (SPEED PUV) Program, and the Interim Rehabilitation Support to Cushion Unfavorably-affected Enterprises by COVID-19 for Better Urban Services (I-RESCUE BUS) Transport Lending Program.
The collaboration was formalized through a virtual Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony led by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III, PNR General Manager Junn Magno, and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia Borromeo held on October 12, 2020.
“LANDBANK welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the continuous development of our transportation systems, in line with providing commuters with more efficient, safe, and comfortable modes of transport. Our combined efforts will fast-track the delivery of much-needed programs and services for the sector amid the ongoing pandemic,” LANDBANK President Borromeo said.
As part of the partnership, LANDBANK will appraise properties that will be affected by the construction of the NSCR-Ex Project, which aims to expand the existing mass transportation in Metropolitan Manila and adjacent areas, and alleviate serious traffic congestions in and around the capital city. The appraisal will cover 15 clustered sites, composed of five (5) sites in Bulacan and Pampanga, and 10 sites in Manila, Makati and Laguna.
Under the NSCR-Ex Project, LANDBANK will also serve as the distribution agent of the Resettlement Action Plan Entitlements Distribution Mechanism. The Bank will deliver cash entitlements to eligible residents and other Project-Affected Persons (PAPs) living along the railway right-of-way from Malolos in Bulacan to Clark in Pampanga, as well as from Tutuban in Manila to Calamba in Laguna.
In coordination with the LTFRB, LANDBANK will distribute cash subsidy to PUV operators who have been adversely affected by the suspension in public transportation operations and reduced ridership due to COVID-19 safety protocols. The Bank will facilitate the cash release through the Pantawid Pasada Program (PPP) fuel cash cards, existing LANDBANK accounts, other bank accounts via InstaPay or PESONet, and over-the-counter payouts.
The DOTr and LANDBANK will also jointly conduct the Pilot Production Testing of the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), which will utilize convenient Mastercard EMVCo-compliant contactless cards as payment instruments in public transport modes. The testing will verify the entire AFCS under a real-time operating condition in preparation for its full and commercial implementation.
Finally, a MOA was formalized to ensure that the plans, procedures, and rules of LANDBANK’s transport lending programs—the SPEED PUV Lending Program and IRESCUE BUS Transport Lending Program—are aligned with the DOTr’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
The SPEED PUV Program offers financing to public transport cooperatives or corporations to help them make the shift to more efficient and safer vehicles. As of August 31, 2020, LANDBANK has approved a total of P737.21 million in loans to 16 borrowers nationwide for the purchase of 407 modern jeepneys.
Meanwhile, LANDBANK has allotted an initial P3 billion for the recently launched IRESCUE BUS Transport Lending Program to support public transport cooperatives and corporations, who are members of the consortium selected for the Metro Manila Bus Modernization Program, for the purchase of modern public utility buses. Qualified enterprises may borrow up to eighty percent (80%) of the acquisition cost of the vehicle, at an affordable fixed interest rate of 5% per annum for the first three (3) years—payable up to a maximum of seven (7) years, inclusive of the two-year grace period on principal.
Interested borrowers may contact the nearest open LANDBANK Lending Center or Branch nationwide, or call LANDBANK’s customer service hotline at (02) 8-405-7000 or at PLDT Domestic Toll Free 1-800-10-405-7000.
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LANDBANK offers easy investing in high-yield retail treasury bonds
State-run LANDBANK is making it easier for Filipinos to grow their savings and contribute to nation-building by offering secure and convenient ways to invest in the Retail Treasury Bonds Tranche 31 (RTB 31) with Bond Exchange of the National Government through the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr). Launched on 05 August 2025 with the theme “RTB 31 For Everyone,” this latest peso-denominated RTB offering is a five-year investment that offers a competitive annual interest rate of 6.0% per annum, paid quarterly. The BTr is offering the RTB 31 to help fund key national priorities, including agriculture, infrastructure, education, and healthcare. "Together, let us continue to broaden participation, strengthen trust in government securities, and ensure that every Filipino can become a part of our national growth story," said National Treasurer Sharon P. Almanza. During the rate-setting auction ahead of the RTB 31 launch, the BTr attracted an overwhelming P354.2 billion in total tenders — equivalent to 11.8 times the initial offer of P30 billion. Of this amount, P210 billion or 59% was awarded, underscoring sustained strong investor confidence in the National Government. “We are opening more doors for every Filipino to invest — not just in secure, high-yielding instruments like the RTB 31, but in the future of our country. Through LANDBANK’s digital platforms, we are empowering citizens here and abroad to grow their savings with ease, while helping fund critical programs that uplift lives and communities,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. Investing made simple and accessible With a minimum investment of only P5,000, with subsequent investments in multiples of P5,000 thereafter, investors from the country and abroad can conveniently participate in the RTB 31 offering through the mobile banking apps of LANDBANK and the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank) — the official digital bank of the Philippine government and a subsidiary of LANDBANK. Investors may also use the BTr Online Ordering Facility and settle the payments via LANDBANK’s Link.BizPortal, free of charge. The public offer period for RTB 31 runs until 15 August, with the issue date on 20 August 2025 and maturity on 20 August 2030. As a Joint Lead Issue Manager, LANDBANK reinforces its commitment to financial inclusion by empowering more Filipinos to become active contributors to the nation’s long-term growth. ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable national development. Present in all 82 provinces in the country, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.
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UP, LANDBANK team up to boost scholarships and digital services
A Future for Inclusive Education. (seated) UP President Angelo A. Jimenez (4th from left) and LANDBANK Executive Vice President Leila C. Martin (5th from left) lead the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 01 August 2025 at UP Diliman in Quezon City, formalizing a partnership to support student scholarships, faculty development, and digital financial inclusion across the UP community. Towards advancing inclusive and quality education, and corporate social responsibility (CSR), LANDBANK and the University of the Philippines (UP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide employee-funded scholarships, faculty development grants, and campus-wide digital banking services. Under the MOU, LANDBANK will support the University’s LINGAP-ISKOLAR Program by providing scholarships to select students from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), as well as support for professorial chair and faculty grants for UP educators. The initiative is uniquely fully-funded through voluntary donations from the more than 12,000 LANDBANK employees nationwide, aligned with the Bank’s commitment to CSR. “We are proud to walk alongside UP in shaping the next generation of leaders, changemakers, and nation-builders. Whether by funding education or supporting faculty development, LANDBANK is committed to helping expand access to quality education and financial services — especially in underserved communities,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz in a statement. UP President Angelo A. Jimenez and LANDBANK Executive Vice President Leila C. Martin led the ceremonial signing of the MOU on 01 August 2025 at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman Campus in Quezon City. They were joined by UP Executive Vice President Leo D.P. Cubillan, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Ma. Shari Niña G. Oliquino, Office of Admissions Director Francisco N. De Los Reyes, and LANDBANK Senior Vice Presidents Marilou L. Villafranca and Catherine Rowena B. Villanueva as official witnesses to the partnership. CSR and Digital Access Integration The partnership reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to empower Filipino students and educators towards progressive, and inclusive national development, aligned with the Bank’s CSR Pillars of S.E.R.V.E.—Sustainability, Environment, Resilience, Volunteerism, and Education. The collaboration includes the rollout of LANDBANK’s Cash-Lite Campus initiative, which promotes cashless transactions across the UP community. The program offers students, faculty, staff, campus vendors, and public transport providers access to digital banking services, including online account opening via the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App, QR payments, and e-commerce features, ensuring faster, safer, and more convenient daily transactions. Support for Admissions and Employability LANDBANK also assisted in promoting the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) through its branches and online channels, and provided free transportation for examinees in provincial areas during the 2 to 3 August 2025 test days. The Bank will likewise offer internship opportunities and prioritize UP graduates for employment across LANDBANK, its subsidiaries, and foundation. Meanwhile, UP will identify scholarship and grant beneficiaries and help roll out LANDBANK’s financial education and digital banking services through campus-wide engagements. About LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable national development. Present in all 82 provinces in the county, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.
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BIR, LANDBANK team-up for tax portal for digital services
QUEZON CITY — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has tapped LANDBANK to develop the Value-Added Tax on Digital Services (VDS) Portal, a dedicated platform for Digital Service Providers (DSPs) located outside the Philippines to conveniently file and pay Value-Added Tax (VAT) obligations online for their in-country services. BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. and LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz formalized the partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on 8 July 2025 at the BIR National Office Building in Quezon City. The collaboration is in line with Republic Act No. 12023, which mandates the imposition of VAT on foreign digital service providers for services consumed within the country. LANDBANK will serve as the solution provider for the portal’s development and maintenance, while BIR will oversee implementation and policy compliance, to support the government’s push for digital tax administration and greater revenue mobilization in the digital economy. ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable national development. Present in all 82 provinces in the county, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.
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