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LANDBANK grants P120-M loan to boost Basilan town’s agri, infra dev’t


June 26, 2024

Tuburan Mayor Jhaber S. Kallahal (2nd from right) and LANDBANK Senior Vice President Charlotte I. Conde (center) lead the signing of a P120-million loan agreement to finance the Municipal Government of Tuburan’s acquisition of various heavy equipment. Joining them are Tuburan Municipal Treasurer Abubakar U. Mohammad (rightmost), LANDBANK Zamboanga City Lending Center Head Zenaida K. Valencia (4th from right) and Account Officer Jaydee N. Bongon (leftmost).

TUBURAN, Basilan – Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has extended a P120-million loan to the Municipal Government of Tuburan for the purchase of various heavy equipment to speed-up construction and maintenance of farm-to-market roads and other crucial infrastructure projects across the town. 

The new equipment financed by the state-run Bank will enhance the municipality’s road network and provide over 1,500 local farmers and fishers with improved access to agricultural technology and farm material inputs, plus reduced transportation costs for their produce. 

The agreement between the Municipal Government of Tuburan and LANDBANK was formalized through a loan signing event led by Tuburan Mayor Jhaber S. Kallahal and LANDBANK Senior Vice President Charlotte I. Conde last 23 May 2024 in Zamboanga City. They were joined by Tuburan Municipal Treasurer Abubakar U. Mohammad, LANDBANK Zamboanga City Lending Center Head Zenaida K. Valencia and Account Officer Jaydee N. Bongon. 

The loan will support the local government’s strategic investments in promoting economic growth especially in the town’s underserved communities. 

“LANDBANK stands ready to serve the growth needs of partner local government units to bankroll initiatives that stimulate economic activities. This complements our efforts in support of the agriculture sector and other key industries contributing to building inclusive and sustainable local communities,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. 

The P120-million LANDBANK loan will be used by Tuburan LGU to purchase 10-wheeler dump trucks, 10-wheeler mixer trucks, wheel loaders, a hydraulic crawler excavator, and a 10-wheeler self-loading truck. This will help reduce operational costs associated with renting and subcontracting equipment for current and future construction projects across the town. 

The municipal government requires logistics to maintain existing road networks and other infrastructure projects. The funding from LANDBANK will be crucial in addressing this need and advancing local growth, considering that Tuburan is an agricultural community with most of its land area dedicated to coconuts, rubber, and cassava. 

“LANDBANK’s commitment to fostering economic growth and development in our region is truly commendable. The funds provided will enable us to implement crucial projects and initiatives that will benefit our citizens and enhance the overall quality of life in our Municipality,” said Tuburan Mayor Kallahal. 

“We value the strong partnership we have built with LANDBANK over the years and look forward to work together towards our shared vision of a thriving and prosperous community,” he added. 

LANDBANK is the biggest development partner of LGUs in the country, with outstanding loans reaching P113.6 billion as of April 2024. These loans support local development projects nationwide, including the acquisition of heavy equipment, construction and maintenance of farm-to-market roads, railways and bridges, utility projects, school and hospital buildings, street lights, and computerization of LGU operations, among others. 

ABOUT LANDBANK

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 providing accessible and affordable financial support to key players and industries as part of its broader thrust of serving the nation.


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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. 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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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Farmers pay back loans with palay: Cagayan co-op scales up with LANDBANK backing

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By repaying loans in kind, SOWESFACO shields Solana farmers from exploitative market practices where palay prices are often dictated by middlemen, and ensures fair compensation to help farmers retain more of their hard-earned income.  This system also lessens the stress of cash-based repayments during lean seasons, allowing farmers to focus on improving crop yields and productivity. Building modern, resilient farms The partnership with LANDBANK has also fueled infrastructure upgrades critical to SOWESFACO’s competitiveness. Investments in post-harvest facilities, including dryers and milling equipment, have significantly reduced losses and improved rice quality — positioning the cooperative to meet the demands of institutional buyers and larger markets. “With LANDBANK’s help, we’ve been able to modernize our operations. The support has made us more efficient, competitive, and responsive to our members’ needs,” Barlaan said. This physical expansion has been matched by investments in human capital. The co-op also invests heavily in training programs, including farm management, financial literacy, and cooperative governance, raising the skillset of members to thrive in a changing agricultural landscape. “LANDBANK helped us not just to support our farmers today, but we’re also preparing them for tomorrow. Through skills training and insurance, we’re helping build more resilient and sustainable livelihoods,” he added. To reinforce resilience, SOWESFACO also provides insurance coverage for natural calamities and other unforeseen events, protecting its farmers with a crucial safety net during times of crisis. A vision for wider impact With its foundation firmly established, SOWESFACO plans to expand its operations and reach a broader market, including potential international buyers. Continued financial and technical support from LANDBANK is expected to help the co-op scale up operations and make a more significant impact on the agricultural value chain.  “Our dream is to go beyond Solana, to bring our rice, which we’ve worked so hard to produce, to other provinces and regions. We want people across the country to recognize the quality of our products and the story of our farmers,” said Barlaan. Together, SOWESFACO and LANDBANK represent a working model for inclusive, scalable, and sustainable agricultural development — one rooted in long-term partnerships, capacity-building, and trust.  As LANDBANK continues to serve as a steadfast ally to the agricultural sector, stories like SOWESFACO’s underscore how targeted support can deliver both economic returns and lasting social impact, empowering farmers and rural communities across the country.  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, UTAC partner to support 8,000 farmers

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