Alicia Mayor Joel Amos P. Alejandro (center) inspects the municipal government’s purchase of palay directly from local farmers at premium prices, with support from a P65-million loan under LANDBANK’s Palay at Mais ng Lalawigan Lending Program, which helped stabilize the local prices of palay and provided a ready and steady market for farmers’ produce.
ALICIA, Isabela – Situated in the “Queen Province of the North,” the Municipality of Alicia is surrounded with vast tracts of rich agricultural lands planted mostly to palay and corn. Having the largest irrigated rice fields in the region, Alicia is considered the largest rice producer in Cagayan Valley.
The COVID-19 pandemic, however, affected market conditions for these farmers, as health and safety lockdowns limited the movement of buyers, traders, and produce.
To address this growing concern, the municipal government decided to pursue high-impact projects to help boost the productivity of its more than 1,000 farmers and ensure local food security.
This led the administration of Alicia Mayor Joel Amos P. Alejandro to partner with local farmers’ cooperatives and associations to directly purchase the palay produced by local farmers at premium prices.
Through the assistance of Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), the Alicia LGU applied for a P65-million credit facility for a Permanent Working Capital (PWC) under the Bank’s Palay at Mais ng Lalawigan Lending Program.
Through the Program, the Alicia LGU buys palay at an indicative subsidized price of P15.00 to P16.00 per kilogram for wet palay, and P19.00 per kilogram for dry palay. This helped stabilize the prices of palay in Alicia, while providing a steady market for farmers’ produce.
The LGU, in turn, sells the procured palay processed into milled rice in public markets and other government institutions, such as government hospitals, jails, and other entities. The LGU also signed lease contracts with millers and warehouse owners to set up a streamlined rice milling arrangement in the area.
“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa LANDBANK dahil sa kanilang programa para sa aming local farmers. Malaking tulong ito para sa aming munisipyo. I am also proud to note that we are the first LGU that availed and implemented this Program, which has so far proven to be successful. We are counting on LANDBANK to support our plans in expanding this program so that we may be able to support more palay farmers in Alicia,” Mayor Alejandro said.
Initially launched by LANDBANK and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in 2019 as the “PAlay aLAY sa Magsasaka ng Lalawigan,” the Program aims to provide a credit facility to Municipal, City, and Provincial LGUs to purchase palay produced by local farmers whose incomes have been affected by the drop in the farm gate price of palay. The Program has since been expanded in 2020 to cover the purchase of corn, in support of Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.
“We are closely working with local government partners to meet the production requirements of farmers and help ensure food security especially during this ongoing pandemic. We are thus encouraging more LGUs, especially those in rice and corn producing communities, to avail of the LANDBANK Palay at Mais ng Lalawigan Program to support our local farmers,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo.
The P10-billion funded facility is LANDBANK’s response to the National Government’s call to support the livelihood of local farmers, who can sell their palay and corn to their LGUs at a fair price rather than to unscrupulous rice traders who offer very low prices.
Additionally, LGUs may avail of farm machineries and equipment for post-harvest facilities to support their rice and corn-related activities. As of July 2021, LANDBANK has approved loans for the Program amounting to P3.85 billion for eight (8) LGUs.
As of July 31, 2021, LANDBANK has extended a total of P21 billion in outstanding loans to support the agri-aqua projects of LGUs nationwide.
Interested borrowers of the LANDBANK Palay at Mais ng Lalawigan 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.
For more updates, please follow the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), and Twitter (@LBP_Official); join our Viber community (@LANDBANK); or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).
LANDBANK expands operations in Davao de Oro, opens new branch
(left photo) LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (6th from right) and Davao de Oro First District Representative Congresswoman Maria Carmen S. Zamora (8th from right) lead the ribbon cutting at the inauguration of the LANDBANK Monkayo Branch in Davao de Oro on 09 November 2023. Joining them are LANDBANK Director Atty. David D. Erro (4th from right), Monkayo Councilor Manuel N. Zamora, Jr. (10th from right), together with other LANDBANK senior executives and local government officials. MONKAYO, Davao de Oro – The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) continues to advance financial inclusion in the country with the opening of its newest branch in the first-class town of Monkayo in the province of Davao de Oro. Located in Barangay Poblacion, the LANDBANK Monkayo Branch makes banking services more convenient to clients from the 73 combined barangays of Monkayo and the neighboring towns of Compostela, Montevista and New Bataan. This is the second LANDBANK branch in Davao de Oro, replacing the previous LANDBANK Easy Access Facility (LEAF) in the municipality, to provide improved and expanded banking services to the Province. LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and Davao de Oro First District Representative Congresswoman Maria Carmen S. Zamora led the inauguration rites for the LANDBANK Monkayo Branch on 09 November 2023. They were joined by LANDBANK Director Atty. David D. Erro, Monkayo Councilor Manuel N. Zamora, Jr., and other LANDBANK senior executives and local government officials. “To keep in stride with local developments—not to mention Monkayo being the most populous town in the Province—we deemed it fitting to upgrade the previous LEAF into a full-fledged branch. We are now able to offer a wider range of services, as we complement the local government's vision of establishing a one-stop shop for basic public services,” said LANDBANK President Ortiz. For her part, Congresswoman Zamora thanked LANDBANK for its unwavering service to the nation and the Filipino people. “Without LANDBANK, government could not reach far-flung areas and could not reach ordinary Filipinos who need services,” she said. The newly inaugurated branch is equipped with an automated teller machine (ATM) and cash deposit machine (CDM) to facilitate fast, safe, and timely cash withdrawals and deposits of residents from the covered areas. LANDBANK clients who will benefit from the new touchpoint include over 53,000 Conditional and Unconditional Cash Transfer (CCT/UCT) program beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 7,000 farmers and fishers, as well as government employees, teachers, and students, among others. The LANDBANK Monkayo Branch likewise features a Digital Corner where customers can open a deposit account in as fast as 15 minutes or less using the Bank’s Digital Onboarding System (DOBS). Opening an account via DOBS provides automatic enrollment to LANDBANK’s digital banking channels for safe and convenient online transactions. LANDBANK is the only bank present in all 82 provinces in the country, with a network of 606 branches and branch-lite units and 59 lending centers, 16 of which are in Mindanao. LANDBANK’s continued expansion across the country underscores its commitment to bringing banking services closer to its mandated and priority sectors, especially in unbanked and underserved areas.
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Batanes LGU, LANDBANK ink partnership for convenient online payments
Batanes Governor Marilou H. Cayco (2nd from left) and LANDBANK Basco Branch Head Joseph Caliguiran (3rd from left) lead the MOA signing for the use of the LANDBANK Link.BizPortal facility on 12 October 2023. Joining them are Acting Provincial Treasurer Cristina Caccam (leftmost) and LANDBANK Acting Branch Service Officer Aniceto Ferdinand Mariano (rightmost). BASCO, Batanes – The Provincial Government of Batanes and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) have partnered for the use of the Bank’s Link.BizPortal channel to facilitate online payments for the local government unit (LGU). The LANDBANK Link.BizPortal allows residents to conveniently settle local fees, dues, and charges online at their convenience with just a few clicks on their computers or mobile devices. “LANDBANK will continue to support the digital journey of Batanes with innovative products and services. We look forward to more fruitful collaborations in advancing responsive public service delivery,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. Batanes Governor Marilou H. Cayco and LANDBANK Basco Branch Head Joseph Caliguiran led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement for the partnership at the Provincial Governor’s Office on 12 October 2023. Governor Cayco thanked LANDBANK for its continued assistance and promoted the utilization of the Link.BizPortal among Ivatans. “Dahil dito, mas mapapadali at mapapagaan ang pagbabayad ng ating mga customers. Maraming salamat sa buong LANDBANK lalo na kay Manager Caliguiran sa walang humpay na tulong sa Kapitolyo at sa buong Batanes,” Governor Cayco said. The Provincial Government of Batanes has been the top depositor of the LANDBANK Basco Branch since 1992 and remains among its valued clients. It is also the first LGU in Batanes to avail of the Bank’s various digital banking products, including ATM payroll servicing and weAccess, among others.
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P4.3-B LANDBANK loan to back Pangasinan’s infra, health dev’t
Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III (3rd from left) and LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (4th from left) lead the signing of a P4.3 billion sub-loan agreement to finance the Pangasinan LGU’s various development projects on 25 October 2023 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Malate, Manila. They are joined by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino (2nd from left), Provincial Administrator Melicio F. Patague II (leftmost), and LANDBANK Senior Vice Presidents Ma. Celeste A. Burgos (5th from left) and Filipina B. Monje (rightmost). MALATE, Manila – The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) greenlighted a P4.3 billion loan to the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, geared towards the improved delivery of public, health and tourism services in the Province. The loan is part of the P6 billion omnibus term loan agreement signed by the LGU and the state-run Bank earlier this year to fund the priority development projects in Pangasinan. The signing of the agreement was led by Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III and LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz on 25 October 2023 at LANDBANK Plaza in Malate, Manila. They were joined by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino, Provincial Administrator Melicio F. Patague II, Acting Provincial Treasurer Cristy C. Ubando, Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Baby Ruth F. Torre and Provincial Accountant Atty. Marlon C. Operaña, along with LANDBANK Senior Vice Presidents Ma. Celeste A. Burgos and Filipina B. Monje. “LANDBANK remains committed to supporting Pangasinan’s transformative journey towards a more inclusive and sustainable local economy through our wide array of support services. We look to expedite progress within the Province for the improved delivery of basic and medical services, increased socio-economic activities, and a more robust local tourism sector,” said President Ortiz. Of the P4.3 billion loan, P1.8 billion is earmarked for the construction of an 11-storey government center in the Municipality of Lingayen, designed to house the offices of the Provincial Government and national government agencies. Another P500 million is allocated for the development of the Provincial Capitol Complex. To provide better health care for Pangasinenses, P758 million will be used for the purchase of advanced hospital equipment, including computed tomography (CT) scanners, x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound machines for the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, six (6) district hospitals and seven (7) community hospitals in the Province. Meanwhile, P700 million is set to fund the acquisition of land and construction of support facilities for the Bolinao airport in Bolinao, Pangasinan. The remaining P500 million will help establish a corporate center for businesses and other commercial spaces to help stimulate local economic activity. “We’re rolling out and implementing impactful projects that will boost the economy and improve the lives of our people. We are thankful for our partners like LANDBANK, who are ready to support us as we invest in the future of Pangasinan,” said Governor Guico III. LANDBANK remains a major development partner of the local government sector, supporting the financing requirements for inclusive local development in line with its broader thrust of serving the nation.
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