LANDBANK advances financial inclusion for farmers, fishers in GIDA communities

LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (middle) leads the rollout of the Bilis Ipon: Digital Financial Inclusion Caravan in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur on 01 February 2024 to bring banking and financing services closer to local farmers, fishers, and 4Ps beneficiaries.  In line with bringing banking and financing services closer to far-flung and underserved communities, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has been rolling out a series of caravans nationwide to introduce the Bank’s digital products and affordable loan offerings.  LANDBANK has successfully conducted the "Bilis Ipon: Digital Financial Inclusion Caravan” in 13 provinces this year, which includes communities classified as Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).  Over 700 farmers, fishers, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, and local partners have participated in insightful discussions and demonstrations on how to boost their savings and livelihood.  The caravan offers participants on-the-spot opening of the new LANDBANK PISO Plus basic deposit account, with no initial deposit and maintaining balance. The rollouts also feature the new AGRISENSO Lending Program, designed to provide affordable credit assistance for small farmers and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), among other agriculture players.   “We at LANDBANK believe that financial inclusion is the cornerstone of empowered and resilient communities. We remain steadfast with our commitment to bridging the financial gap by bringing accessible banking solutions closer to Filipinos, including those in remote and underserved areas,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. LANDBANK remains the only Bank present in all 82 provinces of the country, with physical presence in 1,437 cities and municipalities out of the total 1,634 for an 88% nationwide coverage as of January 2024.  To better service GIDAs, the Bank is partnering with local players—cooperatives, rural banks, local government units (LGUs), micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and private entities—to provide basic banking services through its LANDBANKasama Program.  The collaboration helps local customers save on transportation costs as they no longer need to travel to other towns and cities to perform cash withdrawals and cash deposits, fund transfers, bills payments, and balance inquiries, among basic banking transactions.  (left photo) Plaridel Mayor Gadwin E. Handumon (4th from left) and LANDBANK senior officials join the participants after the successful cash-out demonstration with a LANDBANKasama Partner during the Digital Financial Inclusion Caravan in Plaridel, Misamis Occidental on 16 February 2024. (right photo) Plaridel Farmer Lolita C. Palangpangan shares that the presence of a LANDBANKasama Partner near them can save her P70 on transportation.  “Ang nakaayo sa LANDBANK kay dili na kaayo gastos kay mas gamay na man ang among plitehan kay naa ra man sa duol ang among co-op, ikumpara sa moadto mi sa LANDBANK branch nga layo,” said farmer Lolita C. Palangpangan during the recent Caravan in Plaridel, Misamis Occidental, noting that she now saves P70 on transportation.  (“One benefit of LANDBANKasama is lower transportation costs for us since our co-op is located nearby, compared to the fare we pay for traveling to a more distant LANDBANK branch.”) Another leg of the Caravan in Ilocos Sur on 01 February 2024 saw LANDBANK sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC) to onboard more than 400 cooperative-affiliates as new LANDBANKasama Partners. The Bank currently has over 1,080 LANDBANKasama Partners nationwide operating 1,825 point-of-sale (POS) terminals.  The next run of the LANDBANK Bilis Ipon: Digital Financial Inclusion Caravan will be held in Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Ilocos Norte, and Negros Occidental, in line with the Bank’s continuing efforts to promote financial inclusion and inclusive development in the country.  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.