Annie Suela, a watermelon farmer from Sibalom, Antique, availed of LANDBANK’s Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) loan program in 2019 to finance her watermelon production. With the existing quarantine protocols due to COVID-19, Suela once again relied on LANDBANK’s assistance to cushion the effect of the pandemic on her livelihood.
SIBALOM, Antique – The strict quarantine imposed by the government due to the Covid-19 pandemic played a key role in a former overseas worker’s “refreshed” source of income.
Just like everybody who became unsure of how things will turn out as a result of the lockdowns, watermelon farmer Annie Suela found herself in a predicament as to how she and her two children will survive.
But thanks to Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), her two-hectare watermelon farm managed to survive despite the COVID-19 lockdowns.
A former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Hong Kong, Suela heard over the radio about LANDBANK’s offer of low interest rates and simpler requirements for small farmers.
“In December 2019, Ms. Suela was granted a credit line under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) loan program to finance the needs of her watermelon production. This also led to job generation for farm workers in their area who help prepare and till their farm,” said LANDBANK Iloilo Lending Center Head Inocentes Y. Ypanto, Jr.
The ACEF fund facility, administered by LANDBANK, allows micro and small enterprises, farmers’ and fishers’ cooperatives and associations, as well as individual farmers to borrow up to 95 percent of total project cost. The funds can be used to purchase farm input and equipment or acquire/establish agri-based production and processing machineries, equipment and facilities.
Suela recounted that she had a hard time keeping her watermelon farm afloat. With the limited transportation in the province resulting from the lockdown, Suela’s programmed deliveries to Manila and Boracay were disrupted.
“Grabe yung experience namin dahil sa lockdown. Kahit ang dami naming pananim na watermelon, wala kaming kinikita dahil wala talagang bumibili at walang bumi-byahe sa mga terminal. (We experienced difficulties because of the lockdown. Nobody wants to buy our watermelon and any means of transporting our produce to the markets practically stopped),” Suela said.
But these challenges did not break her spirit. Even with the lower profit and logistics issues, she continued to look for ways to sell her watermelons. On top of that, she also ensured that her outstanding balance with LANDBANK were paid in full to be eligible for a re-loan that she has been eyeing even before the pandemic.
“Kahit na pandemic, sinikap ko talaga na makapagbayad kasi gusto ko mapanatili yung credit line ko sa LANDBANK para sa farm namin. Nag-focus kami sa pagbebenta ng mga vegetable para mabayaran yung balance namin. (Despite the pandemic, I tried my best to pay our loan obligation so I can maintain our credit line with LANDBANK. We focused on selling vegetables instead),” Suela explained.
For Suela, ACEF was a welcome development for their financial needs compared to the usual unfair terms of illegal moneylenders. She is also is thankful for taking the leap with LANDBANK as it served as her safety net, especially during the strict lockdown period.
“Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa LANDBANK kasi ang bilis din ma-approve ng re-loan ko kahit may pandemic. Within four days, na-credit na agad sa account ko yung loan kaya may pang-capital na ulit kami. Kung wala ang LANDBANK, hindi ko na alam kung saan kami kukuha ng pangsimula ulit. Madali silang kausap at laging handang tumulong sa katulad kong small farmer. (I am thankful to LANDBANK because despite the pandemic, our re-loan was approved immediately. The loan amount that will be used for capital was credited to our account in just four days. I wouldn’t know where to get the funds to restart operations without LANDBANK. They are always willing to help small farmers like me),” Suela said.
Suela and her family are slowly getting back on their feet as quarantine protocols nationwide are relaxed. Aside from the loan she availed from LANDBANK, she is also grateful for the financial literacy workshops and the technical trainings she received from the Bank and the Department of Agriculture to help her better manage the farm.
She is also aiming for higher goals. Suela said she is interested in another loan program that will help her mechanize her farm and increase productivity of both the watermelon and vegetable farms.
Interested borrowers of the LANDBANK ACEF loan 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.
LANDBANK, Pangasinan LGU sign P500-million loan to boost income of rice farmers
Pangasinan Governor Amado I. Espino III (2nd from left) and LANDBANK Pangasinan Lending Center Head, Assistant Vice President Jaime S. Cruz (3rd from left), sign a P500-million loan agreement on 24 September 2021 at the Provincial Capitol in Lingayen, Pangasinan to help boost the income of rice farmers in the province. They are joined by Provincial Administrator Atty. Nimrod S. Camba (leftmost) and LANDBANK Lingayen Branch Head, Assistant Vice President Kathleen D. Fernandez (rightmost). LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – State-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan have signed a P500-million loan to finance agricultural projects aimed at boosting the productivity and income of local rice farmers in the Province of Pangasinan. Under the LANDBANK Palay at Mais ng Lalawigan Lending Program, P400 million of the total loan will be used by the Local Government Unit (LGU) to purchase palay produced by small farmers with less than two (2) hectares of land each. Around 20,000,000 kilos of palay will be purchased by the Provincial LGU at higher prices than the prevailing market in the Province benefitting around 16,000 farmers in Pangasinan. The Provincial Government shall process the milling of the purchased palay and sell them to 14 provincial government-owned hospitals, the Pangasinan Provincial Jail, as well as other LGUs as part of relief operations and other related social services. The rice may also be distributed to Bigasan ng Bayan centers owned by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to be sold to local communities. The remaining P100 million will be used for the construction of a second Rice Processing Complex (RPC) in Pangasinan, together with the purchase of a rice mill, dryer, and industrial vehicles to transport agriculture products. “LANDBANK continues to answer the call of small farmers for an assured market and reasonable prices for their produce. We stand together with our LGU partners towards helping farmers increase their productivity and income, especially during this ongoing pandemic,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. Through the Palay at Mais ng Lalawigan Program, LANDBANK has approved loans amounting to P3.78 billion to eight (8) LGU-borrowers intended for palay procurement and acquisition of farm machineries and equipment (post-harvest facilities). Of this amount, P115 million has been availed by two (2) LGUs as working capital loan for palay procurement, benefitting more than 1,800 small farmers as of August 2021. From January to August 2021, LANDBANK has extended a total of P21.27 billion in outstanding loans in support of agri- and aquaculture projects of LGUs nationwide. LANDBANK remains committed to providing intensified support to the agriculture sector to fast-track its growth and recovery from the impact of the pandemic.
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LANDBANK paves the way for 1.5K Payatas families to become landowners
More than 1,500 families struggling to get decent housing in Payatas, Quezon City will now have the opportunity to own the land they have been living in for over four decades after the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) agreed to sell its property at a lower price. The state-owned Bank recently sold to the Quezon City Government its 96,169-square-meter property covering 157 parcels of land in Barangay Payatas in the amount of P209 million or P48 million less than the original offer of P257 million, paving the way for the urban dwellers to acquire land security tenure. “LANDBANK is proud to be instrumental in fulfilling the dreams of 1,500 families in Payatas to finally own the land they have been occupying for the past forty years. As a universal bank with a social mandate, we are committed to supporting our local government partners in providing affordable housing and other basic necessities to their constituents,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. The City Government will implement a direct sale program to award the land, wherein families will pay for the area they are occupying at P3,000 per square meter. “Malaki po ang pasasalamat namin sa LANDBANK dahil you agreed to enter into negotiations with the City Government para maibigay po sa tao ang matagal na nilang tinitirahang mga lupa,” said Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy” G. Belmonte during a ceremonial awarding of the Deed of Conditional Sale by LANDBANK to the Quezon City Government last 25 September 2021. Alongside extending loans to the agriculture sector, LANDBANK’s efforts toward national development involve extending support to the socioeconomic programs of local government partners, aimed at enhancing the quality of life of their constituents and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth.
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LANDBANK lends financial muscle to DA-Go Negosyo agri program
The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has partnered with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Go Negosyo to support their existing coaching program and service the financial requirements of eligible farmers, fishers, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide. Under the Kapatid Agri Mentor Me Program (KAMMP), LANDBANK will facilitate loan applications and provide credit assistance to graduate-mentees coached and trained by Go Negosyo and DA. The Bank will also assist in the development of new training and mentorship modules for startup and expanding agribusiness ventures. During the virtual Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony on 20 September 2021, LANDBANK welcomed the opportunity to match its loan programs with the specific requirements of eligible KAMMP graduates and provide accessible and affordable credit assistance to support their livelihood. “We are proud to be part of this meaningful and timely undertaking tailored to the needs of the agriculture sector. This is aligned with our ongoing efforts in widening credit access to farmers, fishers, and MSMEs nationwide,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Secretary Joey A. Concepcion highlighted the impact of LANDBANK’s involvement in KAMMP towards achieving its goal under the Mentorship, Market, and Money (3Ms) Principle. “These efforts from LANDBANK to provide financing to entrepreneurs under KAMMP are definitely a welcome development. I would like to thank Secretary Dar and President Borromeo for joining forces with Go Negosyo to really try and improve the lives of the Filipino people,” said Presidential Adviser Concepcion. For his part, DA Secretary William D. Dar noted the importance of adapting digital innovations to transform agriculture in the country. “Mahalaga po ang technology and innovation as part of this mentorship program para sa gano’n ay madagdagan ang kaalaman ng mga nagnenegosyo sa agrikultura at mapadali ang kanilang paghahanap-buhay,” said Secretary Dar. LANDBANK is looking to launch within the year its Digital Lending System (DLS), which will facilitate online loan applications for the safety and convenience of farmers and fishers. This move is in line with the National Government’s health and safety protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its Ease of Doing Business campaign. From January to July 2021, LANDBANK has conducted 20 virtual trainings for 168 cooperatives nationwide facilitated by the LANDBANK Countryside Development Foundation, Inc. (LCDFI), while 85 MSMEs have attended the Bank’s new webinars from July to August 2021 to strengthen their recovery strategy under the new normal. LANDBANK’s partnership with DA and Go Negosyo builds on the Bank’s ongoing efforts to provide accessible and timely agricultural credit as part of serving the nation.
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