LANDBANK President and CEO and OFBank Chairperson Lynette V. Ortiz (Center), OFBank OIC Atty. Reo S. Andarino (5th from left), and DMW OIC-Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac (3rd from left) lead the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement to fast-track the delivery of indemnity claims for OFWs affected by company closures in Saudi Arabia. Joining them as witnesses are DMW Usec. Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones (leftmost) and Usec. Bernard P. Olalia (2nd from left), together with LANDBANK Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron (6th from left), and OFBank Relationship Officer Jose Aryiel G. Castor. (rightmost).
The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank), and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) have joined forces to expedite the delivery of indemnity claims to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) displaced by the bankruptcies of Saudi Arabian construction companies in 2015 and 2016.
The collaboration will integrate and streamline the processes of LANDBANK and OFBank with the DMW, to fast-track the processing and crediting of checks as compensation for the unpaid wages and other benefits of affected OFWs, including the claimant families of eligible workers already deceased.
As of 29 February 2024, LANDBANK and OFBank have credited a total of 1,211 checks to affected OFWs amounting to US$16.4 Million.
LANDBANK President and CEO and OFBank Chairperson Lynette V. Ortiz, OFBank OIC Atty. Reo S. Andarino, and DMW OIC-Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac led the signing of the tripartite Memorandum of Agreement at the DMW Office in Pasig on 01 March 2024. Witnesses include DMW Undersecretaries Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones and Bernard P. Olalia, alongside LANDBANK Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron, and OFBank Relationship Officer Jose Aryiel G. Castor.
“We're happy to be able to help with this project for our OFWs. We want to ensure that the back pays of all our displaced kababayans are delivered at the soonest possible time,” said LANDBANK President and CEO and OFBank Chairperson Ortiz.
LANDBANK will offer over-the-counter banking services to eligible OFWs to claim their indemnity claims, free of charge, through the Bank’s extensive network of 607 branches and branch-lite units nationwide.
The Bank will likewise coordinate with foreign depository banks in monitoring the Outward Bills for Collection (OBC) from the OFWs, and facilitate the flow of inward funds to the OFBank accounts of their beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the OFBank will assist OFWs and their beneficiaries, including those who are currently overseas, with opening an account and accessing the Bank’s digital services, while collaborating with the DMW in raising awareness on the procedures covering the negotiation of indemnity checks from foreign employers.
OFBank will also spearhead the provision of financial education services to OFWs particularly on savings and investment management and accessing the Bank’s digital services.
“We are thankful for this long-standing partnership. Ang tulong ng LANDBANK sa ating mga OFWs ay di matatawaran. And the good news is we can do so much more. Among others, this matter on the claims of the workers in Saudi Arabia is very high on the agenda,” said DMW OIC-Secretary Cacdac.
The DMW will be coordinating with all the identified beneficiaries and will provide assistance on the procedures for the negotiation of the checks. The department will also maintain a helpline to immediately respond to the inquiries of qualified OFWs and their beneficiaries.
The DMW will likewise handle the negotiation for the cases of deceased eligible OFWs in favor of their identified heirs and family members.
ABOUT LANDBANK
LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation and sustainable development to benefit Filipinos. It is committed to provide responsive and meaningful services beyond banking, while leveraging on innovative technology for safe, convenient, and accessible digital banking solutions.
ABOUT OFBank
The OFBank, a fully-owned subsidiary of LANDBANK, is the country’s first digital government Bank which is focused on serving the diverse banking and financing requirements of Filipinos overseas. The Bank is serving clients from a total of 132 countries and territories as of 29 February 2024, including the top 10 destinations for the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
SRA, LANDBANK empower sugarcane farmers with expanded credit access
LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (3rd from left) and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis S. Azcona (4th from left) lead the signing of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Socialized Credit Program under the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SCP-SIDA) on 16 December 2024 at the SRA Sugar Center Building, North Avenue Diliman, Quezon City. The streamlining of the Program's processes aims to provide more accessible and affordable credit support, in line with the Bank's commitment to empowering Filipino sugarcane farmers and boosting the country's agriculture sector. As of end-November 2024, LANDBANK has approved loans under the SCP-SIDA amounting to P1.32 billion, benefitting over 4,000 individual borrowers, including six block farms and four common service centers nationwide. Joining the event are LANDBANK Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos (2nd from left), Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Logistics Daniel Alfonso N. Atayde (leftmost), together with SRA Board Members Ma. Mitzi V. Mangwag (2nd from right) and David Andrew L. Sanson (rightmost). ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the Philippines promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable national development. Present in all 82 provinces in the country, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.
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LANDBANK welcomes RCEF extension until 2031
LANDBANK welcomed the recent passage of Republic Act No. 11954 as amendment to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), and expressed full support for the extension of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) for another seven years, aimed to accelerate modernization in the rice sector and strengthen the resilience and productivity of Filipino rice farmers. As one of the implementers of RCEF in partnership with Department of Agriculture (DA), LANDBANK delivers credit assistance at low-interest rates with simplified processes to ensure accessibility for individual rice farmers and cooperatives in major rice producing provinces. Under the Expanded Rice Credit Assistance of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ERCA-RCEF), LANDBANK has extended P2.89 billion in loans to support rice production and post-harvest activities from 2019 to 2024. LANDBANK’s loans have benefitted 17,767 individual rice farmers and 270 cooperatives with more than 47,100 member-beneficiaries, which were channeled for palay production, milling and trading, re-lending, and the acquisition of farm machineries. Notably, 98% of LANDBANK’s direct borrowers under the program are individual rice farmers. “LANDBANK fully supports the RCEF extension towards strengthening our collective efforts to empowering Filipino rice farmers and boosting agricultural competitiveness. This significant step will bolster food security and sustainability, and the Bank stands ready to continue its active role in supporting this initiative,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. LANDBANK has remained faithful to its social mandate of promoting inclusive and sustainable development as the biggest credit provider to the agriculture sector servicing all components of the agriculture value chain. As of October 2024, the Bank has extended outstanding loans amounting to P769.68 billion in support of agriculture, fisheries and rural development under Republic Act No. 11901, otherwise known as “The Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022.” LANDBANK’s investments in promoting countryside development of P769.68 billion represents 55.5% of the Bank’s total P1.387 trillion gross loan portfolio. The Bank has also assisted a total of 3.93 million small farmers and fishers nationwide through loans and various support interventions. ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the Philippines promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable national development. Present in all 82 provinces in the country, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.
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LANDBANK maintains top GOCC status, bags multiple governance awards
Director Virginia N. Orogo (5th from right) accepts the award on behalf of LANDBANK for being the top GOCC in corporate governance for 2023 from Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin (6th from right), GCG Chairperson Atty. Marius P. Corpus (7th from right), and GCG Commissioners Atty. Brian Keith F. Hosaka (8th from right) and Atty. Geraldine Marie Berberabe-Martinez (rightmost) during the 2024 GCG Awards Ceremony on 25 November 2024 at the PICC Complex in Pasay City. Joining them are LANDBANK Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron (4th from right), Senior Vice President Atty. Roderick P. Sacro (leftmost), and Vice Presidents Atty. Myra-Lyn S. Peñalosa (3rd from right), May D. Arizabal (2nd from right), and Atty. Nikkolas G. Tolentino (9th from right). (Photo credits to GCG) LANDBANK was named the top government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) for the second consecutive year, earning the highest rating for corporate governance in 2023 from the Governance Commission of GOCCs (GCG). The state-run Bank garnered an unprecedented rating of 104% on the GCG’s Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS), exceeding the rating ceiling of 100%. The CGS is an evaluation tool that assesses the corporate governance practices of GOCCs, using a methodology aligned with international standards. “Being recognized anew as the top GOCC for corporate governance reflects LANDBANK’s steadfast commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence in public service. This recognition drives us further to continuously foster a culture of good governance, ensuring that we remain a reliable and trusted partner in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth across the nation,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, alongside GCG Chairperson Atty. Marius P. Corpus and Commissioners Atty. Brian Keith F. Hosaka and Atty. Geraldine Marie Berberabe-Martinez, conferred the award to LANDBANK during the 2024 GCG Awards Ceremony at the PICC Complex in Pasay City. LANDBANK Director Virginia N. Orogo received the award on behalf of the Bank, along with Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron, Senior Vice President Atty. Roderick P. Sacro, and Vice Presidents Atty. Myra-Lyn S. Peñalosa, May D. Arizabal, and Atty. Nikkolas G. Tolentino. LANDBANK also ranked among the top-ranking GOCCs in the 2023 GCG Performance Evaluation System (PES), which measures the achievements of GOCCs based on performance criteria, targets, and weighted indicators outlined in the Performance Scorecard. In addition, LANDBANK received a Sustainability Award for its outstanding commitment to sustainability values and practices. The Bank was further lauded for consistently achieving high scores in the "Responsibilities of the Board" section of the Corporate Governance Scorecard and for adhering to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards in its Sustainability Reporting for calendar years 2021 to 2023. LANDBANK has long been committed to upholding the highest ethical standards while faithfully fulfilling its role in nation-building. In 2024, the Bank remitted a record-setting P32.119 billion in cash dividends to the National Government—the highest in the Bank’s history and among all GOCCs—to support the country’s priority infrastructure projects and socio-economic programs. From governance to sustainability, LANDBANK continues to set benchmarks for excellence in the public sector, solidifying its role as a key and reliable partner in empowering the country’s drive toward inclusive progress. ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the Philippines promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable national development. Present in all 82 provinces in the country, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.
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