The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) fully supports the ongoing Senate initiative to amend the provisions of Republic Act. No. 10000, otherwise known as the Agri-Agra Reform Credit of 2009 (Agri-Agra Law), which will provide farmers and fishers nationwide an expanded and easier access to responsive agricultural financing.
During a public hearing on the proposed Agri-Agra Law amendments on May 12, 2021, the state-owned Bank also welcomed recommendations from legislators to revisit its loan application requirements, specifically for small farmers and fishers, to make it easier for them to access financing.
In 2019, prior to the ongoing Agri-Agra law revisit, LANDBANK started simplifying its loan processes to make the Bank’s programs more accessible to small farmers and fishers.
First, the loan application form was condensed from three (3) documents to just one (1) document, and was reformatted with mostly tick boxes for easier completion. Second, the Promissory Note was significantly trimmed from 14 pages to only 1 page.
LANDBANK has also consistently complied with the Agri-Agra Law, which requires all banking institutions to allot 15% of their total lending portfolio for agriculture loans and 10% for agrarian reform credit.
As of December 2020, LANDBANK’s agriculture loans reached 76.95% and 11.52% for agrarian reform. Overall, LANDBANK’s agriculture lending has been consistently growing from P222.05 billion in 2018, to P236.31 billion in 2019, and P237.62 billion in 2020.
Likewise, as of March 31, 2021, LANDBANK’s total loan portfolio to the agriculture sector also grew by 4.8% to P229.70 billion from P219.24 billion last February. The increase is primarily attributed to a 9.5% rise in loans released to small, medium and large enterprises.
Of the P229.70 billion total outstanding loans, P36.27 billion benefitted small farmers and fishers, cooperatives and farmers’ associations, rural financial institutions and other conduits.
In partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), LANDBANK has also assisted cumulatively 2,696,839 farmers and fishers nationwide as of end-March 2021. This represents increases of 14,147 beneficiaries from February, and 25,990 for the first three months of the year.
Just last month, LANDBANK also culminated its Online Stakeholder’s Consultation Forum towards addressing emerging challenges and issues faced by clients in accessing agricultural credit amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Forum facilitated knowledge sharing with key players in the agribusiness value chain to help the Bank further improve the accessibility of its lending products and services, especially under the new normal.
Online survey and focus group discussions were conducted to gain insights and suggestions from farmers and fishers groups, agri-input suppliers, aggregators and traders, processors, and wholesalers and exporters.
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).
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LANDBANK, SariSuki unite to empower farmers with accessible credit
[L-R] SariSuki Head of Agritech Department Joselito Lontok, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Brian Cu, LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz, and Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos hold the memorandum of agreement for the AGRISENSO Lending Program partnership. Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has partnered with SariSuki, a leading Philippine agritech startup, which aims to revolutionize the agricultural supply chain through the Bank’s AGRISENSO Lending Program. This strategic alliance aims to support over 300 small farmers and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) by providing accessible financing, hands-on guidance, and a reliable market for their produce, aiming to enhance livelihoods and contribute to long-term food security. LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz emphasized the partnership as a strategic move to support small farmers and boost crop production. “Through the combined networks, expertise, and resources of SariSuki and LANDBANK, we can effectively meet the financial needs of our farmers while providing crucial production, technical, and marketing assistance to enhance their productivity and income," she said. Under the partnership, SariSuki will serve as the primary buyer of farmers' produce, integral to its mission of building a vertically integrated agriculture superhighway. Brian Cu, Co-founder and CEO of SariSuki, explained, “By providing a stable market, and technical support in farming, business management, and financial literacy, we address farmers’ key challenges. Backed by LANDBANK’s financing, we aim to uplift farmers' livelihoods, ensure business sustainability, and enhance food security. For its part, LANDBANK will be extending to eligible partners endorsed by SariSuki the AGRISENSO Lending Program that provides affordable financing to small farmers, Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), and the whole agriculture value chain, aimed at bolstering nationwide food security and sufficiency. A key element of this partnership is SariSuki's commitment to directly pay the principal of farmers' loans to LANDBANK, allowing farmers to immediately profit from their earnings, providing financial relief, and encouraging reinvestment in their farms. The collaboration seeks to lower the cost of fresh produce by integrating SariSuki’s supply chain with an omni-channel demand network and sourcing directly from local farmers. Through these efforts, SariSuki is driving meaningful change in the agricultural sector, ensuring the abundance, accessibility, and affordability of wet market goods. The partnership also aims to expand SariSuki’s network by working with LANDBANK’s Lending Centers in key agricultural regions like Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Laguna, and Cavite welcoming new farmers while continuing to support existing members. Since the launch of the AGRISENSO Lending Program this year, LANDBANK has supported over 1,766 borrowers nationwide with P272 million in approved loans. The Program is being offered at the Bank’s “Bilis Ipon: Digital Financial Inclusion Caravan” rollouts, which has brought banking and financing services closer to farmers in 17 underserved areas nationwide, including most recently Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental. Together, LANDBANK and SariSuki are building an innovative ecosystem that integrates financial support, market access, and technical assistance to uplift farmers and strengthen the agricultural sector. This collaboration is a significant step toward transformative change, fostering a more prosperous future for farmers, broader agricultural growth, and a food-secure nation. 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. About SariSuki Sarisuki is an Agritech and ECommerce Startup that aims to improve the accessibility, affordability, and ultimately abundance of Fresh produce in the Philippines. The three year old startup is building an "Agri Super Highway" connecting farmers/producers to its multiple demand channels. SariSuki leverages the power of local communities to transform the agricultural supply chain and positively impact the lives of Filipino Ka-Sangga (farmers), Ka-Sari (community leaders/sellers), and Ka-Suki (consumers), and the larger community. Sarisuki aims to bridge the gap between these stakeholders and create a sustainable, equitable, and transparent agri-futures.
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LANDBANK backs Prime Infra’s sustainability push with P5-B boost
LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (3rd from right) and Prime Infra President and CEO Guillaume Lucci (4th from right) ink a P5-billion loan agreement to partially fund Prime Infra’s projects across its core sectors. Joining them are Prime Infra Chief Finance Officer Sandy Alipio (5th from right) and Treasury Head Emma Villa del Rey (leftmost), alongside LANDBANK Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos (2nd from right), and Senior Vice President Lucila E. Tesoreso (rightmost) as witnesses. Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has approved a P5-billion loan to Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (Prime Infra) to bolster its sustainability projects, marking the first partnership between the two institutions. The P5 billion loan facility will be utilized to partially finance working capital requirements of Prime Infra’s pipeline projects across its core sectors — water, sustainable energy, and waste management and sustainable fuels. This financing aligns with LANDBANK’s commitment to advancing sustainability initiatives and promoting sound environmental management. LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and Prime Infra President and CEO Guillaume Lucci formalized the loan agreement on 4 September 2024 at the Three E-Com Center in Pasay City. They were joined by Prime Infra Chief Finance Officer Sandy Alipio, Treasury Head Emma Villa del Rey, and Treasury Manager Kaila Almendarez, together with LANDBANK Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos, Senior Vice President Lucila E. Tesoreso, and Vice President Jell B. Ong. “We are excited to embark on this new partnership with a recognized leader in building critical and socially relevant infrastructure. Our common goal of enhancing lives and fostering resilient economies makes this loan facility a truly mutually beneficial endeavor,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz. LANDBANK’s financial support will enable Prime Infra to accelerate its initiatives in critical infrastructure sectors, thereby contributing to the country’s economic growth and environmental resilience. “This partnership with LANDBANK is a significant step forward in our commitment to developing sustainable and resilient infrastructure. It will enable Prime Infra to further accelerate the progress of our projects in sustainable energy, water supply, and waste management,” said Prime Infra President and CEO Lucci. This significant financing deal reaffirms LANDBANK’s role as a key partner in driving sustainable development and supporting projects that align with the country’s environmental and economic goals. 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 county, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.
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Pag-IBIG honors LANDBANK as top government employer
Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) was recently honored as Top Government Employer under the National Government category during the Home Development Mutual Fund Stakeholder Accomplishment Report (Pag-IBIG StAR) in the National Capital Region, for having the most number of employees who voluntarily raised their contributions in 2024. LANDBANK Executive Vice President Alan V. Bornas (3rd from right) accepted the citation from Pag-IBIG CEO Marilene C. Acosta (center), alongside Deputy Chief Executive Officer Benjamin R. Felix Jr. (3rd from left), Senior Vice President Atty. Marie Antoniette D. Diaz (2nd from right), and Vice Presidents Perlacita A. Roldan (rightmost), Florencio Pedro O. Galang Jr. (leftmost), and Atty. Marciano C. Pimentel Jr. (2nd from left). (photo courtesy of Pag-IBIG Fund)
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