A COLLABORATIVE CLIMATE INITIATIVE – DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. (4th from right), PAGASA Administrator Dr. Vicente B. Malano (2nd from right) and LANDBANK Vice President Esperanza N. Martinez (3rd from right) are joined by heads and representatives of other executing entities in launching the “Multi-Hazard Impact-Based Forecasting and Early Warning System for the Philippines” on 26 April 2023 in Quezon City. (Photo Courtesy of DOST-PAGASA)
The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) have joined hands to lead the establishment of an impact-based forecasting and early warning system, to enable communities take better pre-emptive measures against natural calamities.
The “Multi-Hazard Impact-Based Forecasting and Early Warning System for the Philippines” or the “IBF-Ph Project” is supported by a $10-million grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and $12 million in co-financing from PAGASA, under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The IBF-Ph Project aims to address the challenges related to climate hazards by communicating what the weather “will do” rather than what the weather “will be.” It will combine the best available science and local knowledge on forecasting and risk assessment, instead of generating standardized information based on thresholds and lead times.
The IBF-Ph Project will run until 2027, with the end goal of institutionalizing impact-based forecasting and integrating early warnings into investment and policy decisions. It will be piloted in the disaster-prone areas of Palo, Leyte; New Bataan, Davao de Oro; Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; and Legazpi City, Albay.
“LANDBANK welcomes the opportunity of working with PAGASA and other development partners to advance sustainable finance and contribute to addressing the challenges of climate change. We look forward to the successful implementation of the IBF-Ph Project, as part of our broader thrust of promoting sustainable development,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia Cayosa Borromeo.
GCF Mitigation and Adaptation Division Director Dr. German Velasquez, along with Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. and PAGASA Administrator Dr. Vicente B. Malano, led the national launch of the IBF-Ph Project on 26 April 2023 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria Hotel in Ortigas Center, Quezon City.
They were joined by Interior and Local Government Director Edgar Allan B. Tabell, Climate Change Commission Assistant Secretary Romell Antonio O. Cuenca, Office of Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, PAGASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Esperanza O. Cayanan, and LANDBANK Vice President Esperanza N. Martinez.
Also present were World Food Programme Country Director Brenda Barton, Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que, Legazpi City Mayor Carmen Geraldine B. Rosal, Palo Mayor Remedios L. Petilla, and other local development partners.
The IBF-Ph Project is the very first GCF-approved project in the country, with PAGASA as the lead executing entity and LANDBANK serving as a Direct Access Entity (DAE) to ensure that the project is compliant with GCF policies and standards.
Other project implementors are the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB), the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP), and the local government units of Tuguegarao City, Legazpi City, Palo in Leyte, and New Bataan in Davao de Oro.
Project collaborators include the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Finance (DOF), Climate Change Commission (CCC), and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).
LANDBANK named among Top GSEDs, earns three honors from BTr
LANDBANK was recognized as one of the Top 10 Government Securities Eligible Dealers (GSEDs) for 2025, and received two special awards as Top Retail GSED for Online Transactions (Highest Volume) and GSED with the Highest Auction Share of Treasury Bonds during the 128th Anniversary Celebration of the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) and GSED Awarding Ceremony 2025 held on 25 November 2025 in Intramuros, Manila. (Left photo) National Treasurer Sharon P. Almanza (4th from left) presented the award to LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (3rd from left), joined by Deputy Treasurers Eduardo Anthony G. Mariño III (leftmost), Ma. Nanette C. Diaz (2nd from left) and Kenneth Ian A. Francisco (rightmost), together with Finance Undersecretary Karlo Fermin S. Adriano (2nd from right) and LANDBANK First Vice President Ma. Francia O. Titar (3rd from right). "This award recognizes the crucial role of GSEDs in the country’s financial ecosystem. By mobilizing savings and channeling them into government securities, we help secure funding for national priorities while empowering Filipinos to participate directly in nation-building," said LANDBANK President Ortiz.
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LANDBANK advances sustainable, inclusive agri growth at Terra Madre 2025
LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (left photo) engages local enterprises and food sustainability advocates while highlighting the Bank’s P2M QR payment facility and AGRISENSO Plus program during Terra Madre Asia & Pacific 2025 event from November 19 to 23, 2025 in Bacolod City. LANDBANK reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a sustainable and resilient food system across the country by showcasing its integrated financing programs, capacity-building initiatives, and digital solutions through its support of the inaugural Terra Madre Asia & Pacific 2025, held from November 19 to 23, 2025 in Bacolod City. Terra Madre Asia & Pacific, part of the global Slow Food Movement, brought together over 2,000 farmers, fishers, international chefs, indigenous leaders, and advocates from across the region to promote “good, clean, and fair” food, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable food systems. “LANDBANK and Slow Food aligns with sustainable and inclusive agriculture. Through this partnership, we aim to further strengthen local food systems, empower our farmers and fishers, and help ensure that every Filipino has access to nutritious, clean, and fairly produced food,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. The Slow Food movement, founded in Italy in 1989, is dedicated to protecting local food cultures, traditional farming practices, and biodiversity. It champions food that is good in quality and taste, clean in its respect for the environment, and fair in terms of pricing and conditions for producers. Today, Slow Food is a global network present in more than 160 countries, working with diverse communities to promote sustainable, community-centered food systems. Reena Gamboa, Slow Food advocate and Executive Director of Terra Madre Asia & Pacific, emphasizes her commitment to good, clean, and fair food for all—advocating for active support for farmers and safeguarding our environment to ensure everyone has access to proper, sustainable food. “Good, clean, and fair food for all is a universal right. To achieve this, we must protect our biodiversity and environment, as this principle is inseparable from supporting our farmers and ensuring everyone has access to proper, quality food,” said Reena Gamboa, Terra Madre Executive Director. Building on these principles, LANDBANK’s agricultural programs aim to strengthen connections across the value chain. The Bank’s financial and digital services complement community-led efforts by providing stakeholders—from producers to processors to markets—with the tools and support that they need to thrive. LANDBANK’s participation as a key sponsor of Terra Madre Asia & Pacific 2025 further reflects its support for Slow Food initiatives, underscoring the Bank’s commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture, food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate-resilient, community-driven value chains. Integrated support for farmers and fishers On November 20, LANDBANK First Vice President Allan R. Bisnar introduced AGRISENSO Plus, the Bank’s flagship lending program which delivers comprehensive value-chain support by integrating credit, technical assistance, and digital solutions, along with free life and credit life insurance. The program is designed to empower small farmers and fishers, offering customized financing, market linkages, and data-driven insights to boost productivity and efficiency. AGRISENSO Plus features a reduced fixed interest rate of 3% per annum for small farmers, fishers, and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), with competitive rates for associations, cooperatives, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), large enterprises, anchor firms, and agriculture graduates. “AGRISENSO Plus reflects our commitment to strengthening the entire agricultural value chain. By combining accessible financing, capacity-building, and digital solutions, we are enabling our farmers and food producers to thrive in a rapidly changing environment and ensuring that local food systems remain resilient and sustainable,” LANDBANK PCEO Ortiz emphasized. Complementing the Program is the LANDBANK ASCEND (Agri-Fishery Support through Capability Enhancement for Nationwide Development), a capacity-building initiative that provides training in digital financial literacy, sustainable agriculture, and enterprise development. As of September 2025, LANDBANK has released over ₱1.96 billion in loans under the AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program, supporting more than 12,300 borrowers nationwide, most of whom are small farmers and fishers, following successful rollouts in key agricultural hubs across Pampanga, Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, Bukidnon, Iloilo, Palawan, and Negros Occidental. Driving inclusion and digital adoption LANDBANK also showcased its digital innovations, particularly the P2M (Person-to-Merchant) QR payment facility recently launched in Negros Occidental. This interoperable solution allows consumers to enjoy waived transfer fees for purchases of ₱500 and below using QRPh-P2M via the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App, other banking apps, or digital wallets. LANDBANK P2M merchants, on the other hand, benefit from waived transaction fees, which encourages the adoption of digital payments. This provides farmers, MSMEs, and local enterprises with a faster, more secure, and more convenient way to receive payments—reducing cash-handling risks and expanding digital inclusion in agricultural communities. Business owners can simply enroll their existing LANDBANK accounts, with activation completed within 24 to 48 hours. 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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Honored among the world’s best: LANDBANK earns global recognitions for banking excellence and leadership in 2025
LANDBANK has earned seven major distinctions from leading global financial publications in 2025, recognizing its exceptional performance in inclusive finance, institutional banking, investment banking, and the visionary leadership of its President and CEO. Affirming its leadership in financial inclusion and its stature in the banking industry, the state-run Bank earned a spot on the Forbes World’s Best Banks 2025 list, ranking 5th among nine Philippine banks recognized by the global media company, in partnership with Statista. LANDBANK was also included in the Forbes World’s Best Employers 2025 list, placing 4th in the Philippines and 187th out of 900 organizations worldwide, underscoring its strong workplace culture, employee engagement, and commitment to public service excellence. LANDBANK was likewise named Best Bank for Diversity and Inclusion and Best Investment Bank for Debt Capital Markets (DCM) at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, in recognition of its pivotal role in structuring and facilitating debt financing across various sectors, and its commitment to reaching and serving underserved sectors and communities. The Asian Banking & Finance (ABF) Awards also cited the Bank for expanding customer access through innovative, customer-centered services, with the Domestic Retail Bank of the Year – Philippines award. Beyond these institutional distinctions, LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz received two major leadership recognitions in 2025 – as Best New Banking CEO for 2025 by the Global Banking & Finance (GBF) Awards, citing her transformational leadership and measurable impact in strengthening the Bank’s financial performance and credibility. Fortune Magazine also recognized PCEO Ortiz as one of Asia’s Most Powerful Women in 2025, ranking 3rd in the Philippines and 72nd on the worldwide list and highlighting her influential leadership in advancing inclusive finance, digital transformation, and public service innovation. “These recognitions reflect LANDBANK’s intensified focus on inclusive banking, digital transformation, and service excellence. They are a testament to the dedication of all Landbankers nationwide, whose collective efforts empower our clients and communities while advancing the nation’s broader development goals,” said PCEO Ortiz. Sustaining Support to Nation-Building LANDBANK continues to deliver on its dual mandate as a development and universal bank by channeling its financial strength toward national growth. This year, LANDBANK declared ₱33.53 billion in cash dividends to the National Government — the highest in its history and among all government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) — on the back of its strong financial performance. Through its flagship AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program, the Bank strengthens access to affordable and responsive financing for small farmers, fishers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses. The Program features a lowered interest rate of 3% per annum and simplified application processes, allowing borrowers to secure the capital they need to adopt modern farm practices, scale production, and enhance their overall competitiveness. Complementing its loan support is the ASCEND (Agri-Fishery Support thru Capability Enhancement for Nationwide Development) Program, which provides training in digital financial literacy, sustainable agriculture, and enterprise development, aimed at empowering borrowers to become full-fledged agripreneurs. Inclusive Banking for Every Filipino LANDBANK continues to expand its reach through its “phygital” strategy, seamlessly integrating its physical presence with advanced digital channels. This approach ensures a secure and convenient banking experience while serving the underserved and unbanked. The Bank also recently piloted its Person-to-Merchant (P2M) QR payment facility in Negros Occidental, enabling farmers and MSMEs to conduct safe, cashless transactions. The Bank maintains a nationwide network of 10,582 customer touchpoints, including 609 branches, 60 lending centers, 3,244 automated teller machines (ATMs), 236 cash deposit machines (CDMs), and 1,091 LANDBANKasama partners, ensuring financial access even in the most remote communities. Customers can also transact free of charge at over 3,800 7-Eleven ATMs nationwide through the Bank’s partnership with Pito Axm Platform, Inc. (PAPI). ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the country’s largest government financial institution promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable national development. Present in all 82 provinces, the Bank remains steadfast in providing accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.
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