The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) expressed its continuous support to the transportation sector during the opening ceremonies of the 5th Transport Cooperative National Congress on January 29, 2021.
LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo assured transport cooperatives nationwide of readily available lending programs to help address the pressing concerns faced by the transport industry under the new normal.
“LANDBANK is one with all the players in the transportation sector toward building a more resilient and modernized transport system. As your long-time partner in growth and development, we reaffirm our commitment to support your transformative journey toward the next normal of greater modernization,” said LANDBANK President Borromeo.
Organized by the National Federation of Transport Cooperatives’ (NFTC) with the theme, “Transport Cooperatives’ Transformation towards the New Normal,” the National Congress was held to discuss several matters, including the implementation of the National Government’s PUV Modernization Program in relation to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Support to transport cooperatives
The state-run Bank continues to offer the SPEED-PUVs Program (Support Package for Environment-friendly and Efficiently Driven PUVs Program) which extends affordable financing to transport cooperatives and corporations for the purchase of modern jeepneys.
As of December 2020, LANDBANK has approved P1.2 billion-worth of loans from 25 borrowers for the acquisition of 574 modern units. Another 43 loan applications are in the pipeline amounting to a total loan application of P2.53 billion for the acquisition of 1,126 modern units. This came with the government subsidy which has been increased to P160,000 per vehicle effective last year.
In 2020, LANDBANK also launched the I-RESCUE for BUS Transport Lending Program (Interim REhabilitation Support to Cushion Unfavorably-affected Enterprises by Covid-19 for Better Urban Services Transport) to offer a similar credit assistance to bus operators. With an initial fund of P3 billion, the loan facility can finance up to 80% of the acquisition cost of a modern public utility bus, with an affordable fixed interest rate of 5% per annum for the first three (3) years.
Arangkada Projects with the DOTr
Aside from offering financial support to transport cooperatives, LANDBANK has also partnered with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies on various programs in support of the National Government’s transport modernization agenda.
Under the fuel subsidy scheme, LANDBANK has so far distributed direct cash grants worth P6,500 each to 122,311 transport operators who have been adversely affected by the implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols. Distribution of cash grants is ongoing and targeted for completion by April 2021.
The Bank has also extended appraisal services for the North-South Commuter Railway Extension Project (NSCR-Ex), which is designed to expand the existing mass transportation in Metropolitan Manila and adjacent areas. Likewise, under the Resettlement Action Plan Entitlements Distribution Mechanism, LANDBANK delivers cash entitlements to eligible residents and other Project-Affected Persons (PAPs) of the Extension Project.
The DOTr and LANDBANK will also team-up for the Pilot Production Testing of the Automatic Fare Collection System (ACFS), which will utilize convenient Mastercard EMVCo-compliant contactless cards to pay fares in public transport modes. An initial Proof of Technology demonstration was conducted last December 18, 2020.
Both of LANDBANK’s transport lending programs—the SPEED-PUVs and I-RESCUE for BUS Transport—are closely coordinated with the DOTr to ensure their alignment with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
Interested borrowers may visit 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.
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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LANDBANK, DOST-TAPI strengthen partnership to support Filipino innovators
LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (3rd from left) and DOST-TAPI Director Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena (2nd from left) sign the partnership for the enhanced I-TECH Lending Program, designed to provide accessible financing to Filipino inventors and technology developers. Witnessing the signing ceremony on 15 July 2025 at Okada Manila are LANDBANK Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos (rightmost) and DOST- TAPI Investment and Business Operations Division Manager Romeo M. Javate (leftmost). In a joint push to advance innovation and inclusive technological development, LANDBANK and the Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) have formalized a renewed partnership to provide greater support for Filipino inventors and technology developers. Central to the collaboration is the Innovation and Technology (I-TECH) Lending Program, designed to provide affordable and accessible financing to help inventors commercialize their patented technologies and bring them to market. LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and DOST-TAPI Director Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena formalized the partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) signing on 15 July 2025 at Okada Manila. LANDBANK EVP Ma. Celeste A. Burgos and DOST-TAPI Investment & Business Operation Division Manager Romeo M. Javate witnessed the signing. “At LANDBANK, we firmly believe that technology is a key driver of inclusive growth that opens doors to a better, more sustainable future for all. We believe in the potential of every Filipino innovator, and we are here to back that potential every step of the way,” said LANDBANK PCEO Ortiz. Under the enhanced I-TECH Lending Program, LANDBANK serves as the primary lending conduit, while DOST-TAPI administers the Invention Guarantee Fund (IGF) to fund the program. Empowering innovators with accessible financing The I-TECH Lending Program introduces several enhancements to better serve target beneficiaries, broadening its reach and maximizing impact. To encourage wider participation, the previous loan ceiling of P12.5 million has been removed, allowing eligible borrowers to access up to 85% of the total project cost, and up to 80% for land acquisition. Loan interest charges have likewise been waived through funding sourced from the IGF, enabling the Program to operate as an off-book facility for LANDBANK, and lowering the financial burden on borrowers. These enhancements are in line with Republic Act No. 7459, or the Inventors and Invention Incentives Act of the Philippines, which aims to empower local innovators through financial and non-financial assistance. As of 30 June 2025, a total of P32.25 million in loans has been released under the I- TECH Lending Program. Through this enhanced partnership, LANDBANK and DOST-TAPI reaffirm their commitment to empowering Filipino innovators, transforming homegrown ideas into sustainable, high-impact enterprises, and helping build a robust technology-driven 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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