The local government of Rosario in Agusan del Sur recently availed of LANDBANK’s RISE UP LGUs Lending Program to finance the acquisition of heavy equipment, purchase of land, and construction of public terminal and public market.
ROSARIO, Agusan del Sur – The local government unit (LGU) of Rosario in Agusan del Sur has sought the assistance of Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) to finance priority projects amounting to P392 million under the Bank’s Restoration and Invigoration Package for a Self-sufficient Economy towards Upgrowth for LGUs (RISE UP LGUs) Lending Program.
Part of the projects to be financed by LANDBANK for this 2nd class municipality are the acquisition of heavy equipment, purchase of land for local development, and construction of a public terminal and market.
“We are honored and excited to partner with the Rosario LGU as we see their dedication in assisting our stakeholders, which are the farmers. We hope that, in a way, this will contribute in cushioning the effect of this pandemic to the local economy,” said LANDBANK CARAGA South Lending Center Head Arnel M. Caalim.
Additionally, the LGU is looking to purchase one six-wheeler and one 10-wheeler trucks for its logistical requirements, as well as a dump truck and a garbage compactor with auto-loader for better disposal and segregation of waste materials. The heavy equipment are seen to reduce operational expenses and provide additional income to the local coffers as these can be rented-out to neighboring LGUs.
Meanwhile, the development of their public terminal and market will also help Rosario farmers augment their income since more consumers will be able to reach them while cheaper market stall rentals can be offered to them.
“We would like to thank LANDBANK for being a partner of LGU Rosario in pursuing our dreams especially in our quest for developmental projects that will benefit our constituents, provide their basic needs, promote health and public safety and hopefully improve our economic stability,” said Rosario Municipal Mayor Jupiter Abulog.
A LANDBANK depositor since the 1990s, Rosario LGU is hoping to further strengthen its partnership with the Bank in terms of providing accessible financial channels to their people.
“We are also looking forward to the installation of a LANDBANK ATM in our office since this will be the first one in the entire municipality. Currently, we still have to travel to our neighboring municipality if we want to withdraw or deposit cash from the machine so this will really be helpful to our people,” Mayor Abulog added.
RISE UP LGUs Lending Program is a new offering of LANDBANK to local governments that aims to facilitate the regional and local development in its area by integrating the different players in the agricultural value-chain, and finance other innovative programs of LGUs which can bring back the confidence of its constituents in the local economy.
Interested borrowers of the LANDBANK RISE UP LGUs Lending Program 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.
Harvest of wisdom: Retired professor champions sustainable, inclusive farming
Retired educator Dra. Celeste N. Querijero now devotes her time to cultivating mushrooms and managing her farm in Misamis Oriental, which has become a model of sustainable and inclusive farming. OPOL, Misamis Oriental — After dedicating 44 years to shaping minds as an agriculture professor at the Mindanao State University (MSU), Dra. Celeste N. Querijero was offered a prestigious international consultancy post — a tempting opportunity that recognized her expertise and decades of experience. But she chose to stay closer to home to empower small farmers in the community by sharing her knowledge of sustainable farming that defined her teaching career. "Even before I retired, I already had a deep passion for agriculture,” she shared. “As MSU’s coordinator for extension services, I saw firsthand the pressing needs of our farmers. They wanted knowledge, access, and a stable livelihood. So after retirement, I volunteered myself to serve. It’s my way of giving back after all the blessings I’ve received throughout my career," she said. True to this calling, Dra. Querijero founded the CNQ Diversified Farm in Sitio Saguing Patag, named after her initials. With mushrooms as her flagship crop — an expertise she honed while writing her dissertation in Thailand — she began cultivating oyster mushrooms, and later expanded into a diversified farm ecosystem which includes mulberries, ilang-ilang, coconuts, mangoes, vegetables, legumes, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and ube. Empowered by LANDBANK support Dra. Querijero used the loan from LANDBANK to build a multi-purpose facility, which includes a mushroom growing house on the ground floor. To scale up her farm’s operations, Dra. Querijero tapped LANDBANK’s low-interest financing under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Lending Program, implemented in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA). The funds enabled her to invest in modern equipment and build a multi-purpose facility as an additional production area and training venue for farmers and stakeholders. From an initial annual yield of 8,000 oyster mushroom packs, CNQ Diversified Farm now produces 20,000 packs distributed to leading malls such as SM, Ayala, and Robinsons, and even reaching markets in Bohol and Cebu. The expansion also created employment for 21 locals, with women comprising 80% of the workforce. A learning hub for sustainable and inclusive farming Beyond its produce, what sets CNQ Diversified Farm apart is its role as a learning hub for sustainable and inclusive farming. Dra. Querijero regularly hosts agriculture-related training sessions in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO), and other government agencies. Dra. Querijero is even in talks with European stakeholders who are interested to take agri training programs. The CNQ Diversified Farm is fast becoming a model for sustainable and inclusive farming, and a convergence zone for universities, government institutions, and local government units eager to replicate its success and promote rural development. The farm’s innovative practices have also become the subject of academic research, culminating in a published book authored by graduate students. “I’m here to guide and teach — not just to build a farm, but to build lives,” said Dra. Querijero. “LANDBANK made this possible by believing in my vision. The loan gave me breathing room — low interest, one-year grace period, and flexible terms — so I could focus on growing before repaying.” LANDBANK’s steadfast commitment to agriculture LANDBANK serves as the DA’s conduit bank in implementing the ACEF Lending Program, which is designed to empower marginalized players in the agriculture sector through affordable credit and support services. Under this Program, individual farmers and fishers can borrow up to ₱1 million, while cooperatives, associations, and MSMEs can access up to ₱5 million for farm inputs, machinery, and facilities essential to production and processing. As of March 2025, LANDBANK has released ₱14.6 billion in loans under the ACEF Lending Program, benefiting 97,162 borrowers nationwide — 98% of whom are small farmers and fishers. 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 declares P33.53-B cash dividends to national gov’t on strong earnings
Driven by its robust financial performance in 2024 and sustained momentum into 2025, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has declared ₱33.53 billion in cash dividends to the National Government — the highest in the Bank’s history. This record-setting cash dividend is expected to fund priority infrastructure and socio-economic programs, reaffirming LANDBANK’s critical role in advancing national development. “LANDBANK’s record-breaking dividend reflects the institution’s solid fundamentals and strategic financial management. This contribution will help power President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s infrastructure push, investments in education and healthcare, and food security agenda. And it does all this while staying true to its core mission: delivering accessible and responsive financial services to Filipinos across the country,” said Finance Secretary and LANDBANK Chairman Ralph G. Recto. “I commend LANDBANK for consistently delivering strategic value—not only to its stakeholders, but to the entire Filipino nation,” he added. In 2024, the Bank remitted ₱32.12 billion in dividends — the highest among all Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs). With this year’s ₱33.53 billion declaration, LANDBANK maintains its standing as the top dividend contributor among GOCCs for the second consecutive year. “The ₱33.53 billion dividend underscores LANDBANK’s unwavering support for government priorities that uplift lives and communities across the country. It also reflects our strong financial foundation and vital role as a pillar of inclusive growth, ensuring that our sustained performance translates into real and lasting impact,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. Q1 2025 net income rises 11% to ₱13.29-B LANDBANK posted a solid ₱13.29 billion net income for the first quarter of 2025, up 11% from ₱11.98 billion year-on-year and 32% above its Q1 target. LANDBANK’s total assets grew to ₱3.426 trillion, up 5% year-on-year from ₱3.268 trillion, driven by expansions in both loan and investment portfolios. Customer deposits also rose by ₱136.63 billion or 5% to ₱3.02 trillion, reflecting sustained trust in the Bank’s services. Its gross loan portfolio climbed by 8% to ₱1.58 trillion, while investments surged by 14% to ₱1.50 trillion, supported by growth in both trading and non-trading portfolios. LANDBANK’s financial strength was recently reaffirmed by Fitch Ratings, which upgraded its Viability Rating (VR) to ‘bb+’ from ‘bb’, citing stronger capital buffers, enhanced profitability, and its policy-driven mandate. ₱844.61-B in loans for agriculture and rural development Leveraging its solid financial footing, LANDBANK expanded its Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development (AFRD) loan portfolio to a record ₱844.61 billion as of Q1 2025 — representing 53.4% of its total gross loan portfolio of ₱1.58 trillion. The Bank supported nearly 28,000 new small farmers and fishers during the period, bringing total beneficiaries assisted to 4.04 million nationwide. This was accomplished through a mix of direct lending, credit conduits, and capacity-building interventions, spanning the entire agricultural value chain. LANDBANK ranks 5th in Forbes’ 2025 Best Banks in the Philippines LANDBANK climbed to 5th place in Forbes’ Best Banks 2025 survey in the Philippines, up from 8th last year. It was also recognized among the World's Best Employers for the second year in a row, ranking 4th in the Philippines in 2024 — the only government institution on the list. Now in its seventh year, the Forbes’ global ranking — conducted in partnership with Statista — surveyed over 50,000 individuals across 34 countries, evaluating banks on customer satisfaction, trust, terms and conditions, digital services, customer support, and financial advice. This recognition reflects growing confidence in LANDBANK’s mission-driven banking approach and affirms its role in advancing inclusive finance and sustainable development. 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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Deepening roots, widening reach: LANDBANK helps Bulacan co-op grow with its community
CATMON, Bulacan – In what was once a predominantly agricultural barangay of Santa Maria, Bulacan, a grassroots initiative that began with a handful of farmers under a sampaloc tree has blossomed into one of the province’s most progressive cooperatives. Backed by the steadfast support of LANDBANK, Catmon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC) has thrived by growing alongside its community—evolving to meet changing needs while staying true to its agricultural roots. Growing up in Catmon, Emeliza Laurenciana, now the Chairperson of Catmon MPC, recalls the Cooperative as a constant in a community once surrounded by rice fields and backyard farms. “It’s all thanks to the unwavering support of LANDBANK that our Cooperative has flourished, allowing us to uplift the lives of so many in our community, including mine,” Laurenciana shared. From a Tree to a Vision Catmon MPC’s journey started in 1987, when 26 farmers and livestock raisers came together with a shared mission—to improve their lives and uplift their community through agriculture. Each contributed ₱500, pooling a total initial capital of ₱12,500 that would mark the foundation of what is now a pillar of grassroots development in the area. “Back then, local farmers struggled with limited access to capital, technical know-how, and reliable markets. We saw those gaps firsthand, and that became our driving force—to build a Cooperative that could offer real, lasting support where it was most needed,” shared Luisito dela Rosa, one of the 26 founding members who now serves as Catmon MPC’s General Manager. The Cooperative initially focused on livestock production, and with a small grant from the Department of Agriculture (DA), it built a feed mill—a critical asset that improved access to affordable, high-quality animal feeds for farmers across Catmon. A Timely Opportunity A pivotal moment in Catmon MPC’s history was when a representative from LANDBANK visited the Cooperative in 1989 and offered financial access. “We didn’t let that opportunity pass. Because of LANDBANK, we secured the capital we needed for rice production and other ventures,” said Dela Rosa. What started as a single loan to fund agricultural production evolved into a long-term partnership. As the landscape of Catmon shifted from farmlands to residential areas, the Cooperative kept pace by expanding its services to remain a relevant support system for its members. Through all these developments, LANDBANK remained a steadfast partner, providing not only financing but also guidance to help the co-op adapt and expand its reach. “LANDBANK’s support has always allowed us to think ahead. They helped us adapt as our surroundings changed. We’ve expanded our services not just to sustain livelihoods, but to help our members and their families build better lives,” added Laurenciana. New Products, New Purpose Today, Catmon MPC has expanded into dairy production, offering yogurt, flavored milk, and sterilized milk—products that are especially popular among the younger residents in Sta. Maria. The Cooperative also continues to provide financial and livelihood assistance to both long-time members and new households in the community. “What began under a sampaloc tree has now grown into offices and facilities serving communities across Sta. Maria, Bulacan,” shared Dela Rosa, reflecting on the Cooperative’s journey. “To grow with the community means evolving with it. We were founded on agriculture, and that will always be our foundation. But LANDBANK has helped us build on that, expanding our reach without losing sight of where we came from,” he added. Empowering Through Capacity-Building Like its partner LANDBANK, Catmon MPC emphasizes capacity-building as a core value. It regularly conducts training programs to equip members with tools to turn financial and livelihood assistance into sustainable, long-term development. Today, more than three decades since its founding, with over 14,000 members and an asset base exceeding P900 million, Catmon MPC’s continued growth is rooted in a clear vision, strong leadership, and deep ties to its community. Even amid rapid change, it embraces new opportunities, and the Cooperative remains grounded in its original mission: to serve and uplift the community of Catmon. The enduring partnership between LANDBANK and Catmon MPC reflects a shared commitment to driving local development. From a modest effort by a small group of determined farmers that has become a multi-sector cooperative, their story stands as an inspiring example of what can be achieved through trust, adaptability, and a shared mission to empower communities and build a more inclusive, sustainable future. 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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