With support from LANDBANK, brothers Alex and Raymond Abelido were able to establish Tierra del Sur Farms, Inc., in San Agustin, Romblon, which is currently the largest commercial poultry farm in the province supplying around 54,000 fresh farm white eggs daily.
SAN AGUSTIN, Romblon – With its local small-scale poultry farms having limited egg production capacity, this Province mainly relies on imported chicken eggs to fully sustain the daily requirements of consumers, restaurants and other local businesses.
Bulk of Romblon’s egg supply are shipped from other areas in the country, making its supply vulnerable to transportation disruptions caused by adverse weather conditions and other unexpected delays. These constraints were in full display during the previous imposition of lockdown measures and travel restrictions at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local businessmen and brothers Alex and Raymond Abelido saw this demand-supply gap as an opportunity to establish Tierra del Sur Farms, Inc., a commercial poultry farm to help strengthen local egg production and cut down egg imports.
“Growing Romblon’s poultry production is part of our vision to build a more sustainable food system in Romblon. This is our contribution towards ensuring food security in the province,” said Tierra del Sur Farms President and CEO Alex Abelido.
Branching out from their existing construction business, the Abelido brothers faced the challenge of venturing into agriculture and building the largest poultry farm in the province to-date.
In 2023, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) extended credit assistance amounting to P160 million to re-finance the construction of facilities in their 17-hectare farm in Romblon.
The LANDBANK loan helped put up necessary facilities such as four poultry buildings, as well as feeds and tools warehouses, workers' quarters and an organic fertilizer plant. Part of the loan also supported the acquisition of ready-to-lay chickens and covered the purchase of chicken feeds, among other operational expenses.
Not long after having 25,000 laying hens at the beginning of their operations, Tierra del Sur Farms, Inc. now has around 60,000 laying hens in their Romblon farm producing about 54,000 eggs daily. These eggs are distributed to the different island municipalities of the province, including Tablas Island.
Locals are now able to buy eggs at a much cheaper price, with each piece sold at a farm gate price of P7.00 compared to imports that cost around P10.00 per piece. Having locally produced eggs likewise ensures quality and availability in the province, as compared to imported eggs which could take days to reach the province.
Tierra del Sur Farms, Inc. is able to produce over 250,000 eggs daily, distributed in the islands of Romblon and other parts of the country, including Batangas, Rizal, and Manila.
With the success of their Romblon poultry farm, Tierra del Sur Farms, Inc. likewise sought the assistance of LANDBANK in expanding their operations to Calatagan, Batangas. They availed a P430-million loan to finance the construction of poultry buildings and support facilities such as an organic fertilizer plant, sewage treatment plant, and warehouses.
The Batangas poultry farm houses around 250,000 laying hens in seven fully automated and mechanized poultry buildings. It produces about 200,000 eggs daily, shipped to various trade partners in Batangas, Rizal, and Manila.
“We would like to thank LANDBANK for its support as we achieve our goals of empowering local communities and ensuring food security. We look forward to their continued support as we plan to expand the reach of our operations even further to neighboring provinces,” said Raymond Abelido, Tierra del Sur Farms, Inc. Corporate Treasurer and manager.
As of end-March 2024, LANDBANK’s outstanding loans to the poultry sector has reached P15.5 billion to finance the production of chicken and duck eggs, breeding of poultry, and sale of poultry meat and products, among other projects.
Building a sustainable circular economy
As part of Tierra del Sur Farms, Inc.’s advocacy to operate with minimal ecological footprint, the farm prides itself on employing sustainable methods for waste management to reduce environmental impact and protect natural resources.
Through a sewage treatment plant also financed by LANDBANK, the farm recycles wastewater as drinking water for their chickens, thereby reducing costs and preventing water pollution.
LANDBANK’s assistance likewise enabled the farm to construct an organic fertilizer plant to produce their own fertilizer from chicken manure. These fertilizers are sold to local farmers to help improve soil quality and agricultural production.
Tierra del Sur Farms, Inc. was also recently recognized for the good quality of their fertilizer and tapped by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) through a joint venture to supply organic fertilizer to coconut farmers nationwide.
Their new collaboration aims to boost coconut production while promoting proper poultry waste management, as the Abelido brothers work towards making their business more sustainable and self-sustaining.
ABOUT LANDBANK
LANDBANK currently operates a total of two Branches in the Province of Romblon, complemented by seven ATMs and one cash deposit machine, to facilitate accessible, convenient, and secure banking services.
LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation and sustainable development to benefit Filipinos. The Bank is present in all 82 provinces in the country, committed to provide accessible and responsive financing to drive the agriculture sector’s productivity and competitiveness, while championing sustainable development in the countryside.
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.
LEARN MORELANDBANK, 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.
LEARN MORELANDBANK powers cashless fare payments in MRT-3
United for seamless transport fare payments: (from left to right) VISA Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro, Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon, DOTr Secretary Vince B. Dizon, DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda, BSP Monetary Board Member Walter C. Wassmer, G-Xchange President and CEO Ren-ren Reyes, LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and Executive Vice President Leila C. Martin, and BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan join forces to pilot contactless fare payments at MRT-3 under the Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS). LANDBANK reinforced its role as a key enabler of convenient and cashless commuting with the successful pilot launch of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) for MRT-3 on 25 July 2025. Under the AFCS, MRT-3 passengers can now experience seamless commuting by simply tapping their debit, credit, or prepaid Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) cards at upgraded turnstiles. This offers a faster and more convenient alternative to single-journey tickets and stored-value cards, marking a shift towards secure, seamless, and real-time transit payments. The live demonstration was led by Transportation Secretary Vince B. Dizon, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Monetary Board Member Walter C. Wassmer and Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda, Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon, Globe Exchange, Inc. (GXI) President and CEO Ren-ren Reyes, LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz, VISA Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro, RCBC President and CEO Reginald Cariaso, and RCBC Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer EVP Lito Villanueva, among other key stakeholders. “We are proud to enable smart, secure, and contactless payments for daily commuters and to support the government’s push for digital transport reform. At LANDBANK, we are always ready to partner with both public and private players to scale interoperable payment solutions that improve everyday lives,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz. As part of the collaboration project, GCash operator GXI deployed and maintains the POS terminals and transit system at MRT-3 turnstiles, handling fare computation, reporting, and commuter support to ensure smooth card-based transactions. Meanwhile, LANDBANK serves as the sole acquiring bank and transit payment gateway integrator, ensuring that payments made using EMV cards are authorized, processed, and settled directly into DOTr’s account. LANDBANK’s Transit Payment Solution supports fare payments across different transport modes through an integrated system of validators, a central payment gateway, and settlement services. It works for EMV and other dedicated cards, and can connect with other transit providers through secure digital links to support a truly interoperable nationwide transit experience. The AFCS forms part of the National Government’s broader agenda to digitize public services, aligned with Executive Order No. 170 and the BSP’s Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap. With this initiative, LANDBANK stands ready to help build a fully modernized and inclusive public transport ecosystem, powered by financial technology and strong inter-agency and public sector collaboration. 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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