(Left photo) Caticlan Boracay Transport Mulit-Purpose Cooperative (CBT MPC) Chairman Godofredo B. Sadiasa (center) and LANDBANK Agricultural Development and Lending Sector Head Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron (second from right) led the signing of the P135 million-worth loan under the Ferry Boat Inclusive Program (FBIP) for the modernization of the co-op’s fleet of vessels. Also present in the signing are Vice Chairperson Anabelle T. Dalinog (second from left), Treasurer Paulino O. Dela Torre (leftmost) and LANDBANK Capiz Lending Center Head Giovani T. Baoy (rightmost). (Right photo) LANDBANK officials conduct an inspection of a sample fiber-glass boat to be procured by CBT MPC under the loan program with the Bank.
As part of the Government’s thrust to help facilitate economic activities through modern ferry boats, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBT MPC) signed a P135-million loan agreement to replace the cooperative’s existing wooden boats to fiber glass.
CBT MPC is the principal ferry boat operator plying the Caticlan-Boracay route. However, among their current fleet of 58 vessels, only 9 are steel-hulled or made of fiberglass.
Under LANDBANK’s Ferry Boat Inclusive Program (FBIP), the co-op availed of loan to finance the acquisition of brand new and modern ferry boats as replacement to their wooden hulled vessels that are no longer eligible for franchise under the new Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) rules.
Additionally, this partnership will help boat-owners and boatmen of CBT MPC to augment their income and provide safer and more comfortable ride for Boracay tourists, residents, and laborers alike. It will also generate more employment in the community as each modern passenger boat can employ a crew of four as compared to wooden boats with only two.
LANDBANK Agricultural Development and Lending Sector Head Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron and CBT MPC Chairman Godofredo B. Sadiasa led the signing together with the cooperative’s Vice Chairperson Anabelle T. Dalinog, Treasurer Paulino O. Dela Torre, with the Bank’s Capiz Lending Center Head Giovani T. Baoy and employees from Kalibo Satellite Office.
“We would like to thank LANDBANK for this opportunity and we will never forget this partnership. This will be a springboard for a greater CBT MPC probably in the next twenty years,” Sadiasa said.
FBIP is part of the Bank’s support to Department of Transportation’s modernization program. Aside from bridging the gap of socio-economic growth among islands, the Bank is also looking to boost the domestic tourism through the acquisition of modern passenger boats as well.
“We are committed to nourishing the countryside and promoting financial inclusivity, which includes assisting in the movement of commodities, products, and people that are reliant on maritime transport,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo.
Riding the waves through more robust vessels
FBIP was first launched in 2017 then expanded in 2019 to cater to more interested clients currently involved and looking to be involved in the ferry boat business.
With FBIP, the Bank hopes to contribute to the improvement of the agricultural value chain by ushering in safe delivery of fresh goods to the market that require inter-island transportation, while also promoting a modern maritime fleet for the safety and convenience of agri-aqua development players in the country.
Small boat owners, cooperatives, and corporations can avail of this financing Program provided that they will pass the franchising policy set by MARINA—the country’s maritime authority tasked to uphold safe domestic ferry travels.
Aside from the approval of franchising policy, interested parties should also be compliant with the boat safety standards set by MARINA.
Interested borrowers can contact LANDBANK’s 24/7 customer service hotline at (02) 405-7000 or at PLDT Domestic Toll Fee 1-800-10-405-7000, for more information.
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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