To support the local hog industry amid threats from the African Swine Fever outbreak, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has launched a new lending program to assist hog raisers in sustaining and increasing pork production.
During the program launch and signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between LANDBANK and the Department of Agriculture (DA) at the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) Convention Hall in Quezon City on March 17, 2021, the state-run bank said it has earmarked P15 billion for the SWINE (Special Window and Interim Support to Nurture Hog Enterprises) Lending Program.
The LANDBANK SWINE Lending Program will be available for commercial hog raisers registered as cooperatives or farmers’ associations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and large enterprises or corporations.
“LANDBANK is supporting the Department of Agriculture by extending financing support to hog enterprises to sustain their operations and pork supply during this difficult time. Through the LANDBANK SWINE Lending Program, we aim to respond to the recovery requirements of our hog industry and contribute to ensuring food security,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo.
Loans under the LANDBANK SWINE Lending Program shall be used for swine production, which includes the acquisition or importation of semen or breeding animals; feed milling operations; the construction, improvement or retrofitting of necessary facilities that are compliant to biosecurity protocols of DA, the industry or integrators; acquisition of fixed assets; and as working capital.
Eligible borrowers may avail of a short-term loan line or a term loan for up to 80% of their total project cost or financing requirement, with an affordable fixed interest rate of 3% per annum for three (3) years, subject to annual repricing thereafter.
Under the Program, short-term loans have a tenor of one (1) year, term loan for permanent working capital is payable up to five (5) years, while fixed asset acquisition is payable based on the cash flow or payback period of the project, with grace period on the principal and interest.
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar and LANDBANK President Borromeo led the MOA signing to formalize the joint implementation of the SWINE Lending Program.
Witnesses from DA included Undersecretary for Livestock William C. Medrano, Undersecretary for Operations Ariel T. Cayanan, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) OIC-Director Reildrin G. Morales, and National Livestock Program (NLP) and Agricultural Training Institute-International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ATI- ITCPH) Director Ruth S. Miclat-Sonaco, together with LANDBANK Agricultural and Development Lending Sector Officer-In-Charge, Senior Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos.
Under the agreement, DA will provide the list of eligible program borrowers and assist them in the preparation of a business plan, enrollment in the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), and in securing necessary permits.
The DA will also provide loan recipients trainings on biosecurity management and breeding or rearing of hogs, while engaging the services of different organizations in capability building and implementation of biosecurity protocols.
LANDBANK, for its part, will accept and evaluate loan applications of eligible borrowers and facilitate the release of loan proceeds. The Bank will also monitor the performance of the Program and provide monthly reports to DA.
The DA and LANDBANK will work together to promote the Program through the conduct of focus group discussions and dissemination of educational materials.
The LANDBANK SWINE Lending Program will be available until December 31, 2026 in line with the Department of Agriculture’s hog re-population plan.
Last February, the Bank earmarked P2 billion for its new credit offering for the fisheries sector under the LANDBANK Commercial Fishing Vessel Financing Program, aimed at assisting existing and prospective commercial fishing operators in acquiring fishing vessels for domestic or overseas use.
For more information about these and other Lending Programs of the Bank, interested borrowers 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, Like and Share the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), and join our Viber community (@LANDBANK), or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).
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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LANDBANK powers cashless fare payments in MRT-3
United for seamless transport fare payments: (from left to right) VISA Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro, Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon, DOTr Secretary Vince B. Dizon, DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda, BSP Monetary Board Member Walter C. Wassmer, G-Xchange President and CEO Ren-ren Reyes, LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and Executive Vice President Leila C. Martin, and BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan join forces to pilot contactless fare payments at MRT-3 under the Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS). LANDBANK reinforced its role as a key enabler of convenient and cashless commuting with the successful pilot launch of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) for MRT-3 on 25 July 2025. Under the AFCS, MRT-3 passengers can now experience seamless commuting by simply tapping their debit, credit, or prepaid Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) cards at upgraded turnstiles. This offers a faster and more convenient alternative to single-journey tickets and stored-value cards, marking a shift towards secure, seamless, and real-time transit payments. The live demonstration was led by Transportation Secretary Vince B. Dizon, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Monetary Board Member Walter C. Wassmer and Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda, Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon, Globe Exchange, Inc. (GXI) President and CEO Ren-ren Reyes, LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz, VISA Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro, RCBC President and CEO Reginald Cariaso, and RCBC Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer EVP Lito Villanueva, among other key stakeholders. “We are proud to enable smart, secure, and contactless payments for daily commuters and to support the government’s push for digital transport reform. At LANDBANK, we are always ready to partner with both public and private players to scale interoperable payment solutions that improve everyday lives,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz. As part of the collaboration project, GCash operator GXI deployed and maintains the POS terminals and transit system at MRT-3 turnstiles, handling fare computation, reporting, and commuter support to ensure smooth card-based transactions. Meanwhile, LANDBANK serves as the sole acquiring bank and transit payment gateway integrator, ensuring that payments made using EMV cards are authorized, processed, and settled directly into DOTr’s account. LANDBANK’s Transit Payment Solution supports fare payments across different transport modes through an integrated system of validators, a central payment gateway, and settlement services. It works for EMV and other dedicated cards, and can connect with other transit providers through secure digital links to support a truly interoperable nationwide transit experience. The AFCS forms part of the National Government’s broader agenda to digitize public services, aligned with Executive Order No. 170 and the BSP’s Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap. With this initiative, LANDBANK stands ready to help build a fully modernized and inclusive public transport ecosystem, powered by financial technology and strong inter-agency and public sector collaboration. 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 country, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.
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