In celebration of National Coconut Month and the 34th National Coconut Week from August 24 to 30, 2020, state-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) assured stakeholders of the coconut and coffee industries of the Bank’s available credit facilities designed to help improve their operations and income. On the last day of the five-day webinar series, “Coco-Kwentuhan sa Negosyo,” organized by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines, Inc. (CAMP) last August 28, LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said the Bank stands ready to support coconut and coffee stakeholders through its existing lending programs with low interest rates. Under the Coconut Production and Processing Financing (Coco-Financing) Program, LANDBANK is extending credit assistance to coconut farmers and other industry stakeholders engaged in the production and processing of coconut-based products. The Bank is also providing credit support to stakeholders involved in the production of high-value crops like coffee, as well as abaca, banana, cacao, rubber, and vegetables, through the Sulong Saka Program or High Value Crops Financing Program. Aside from promoting crop production, the Program also supports projects that involve the processing and marketing of high value commodities. The LANDBANK Coco-Financing Program and Sulong Saka Program are open to individual small farm holders, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives and farmers’ association, large agribusiness enterprises/corporations, Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and Countryside Financial Institutions (CFIs). Eligible borrowers may apply for a loan under these programs with an affordable interest based on prevailing market benchmark rate. For smallholder farmer, interest rate of 5% per annum to fund coconut and coffee production, including new plantation, replanting, rejuvenation and rehabilitation; establishment of nursery gardens; post-harvest activities such as fermentation, drying, roasting, grinding/packaging and storage; processing/milling; and manufacturing and trading. Production loans under the Coco-Financing Program and Sulong Saka Program are payable based on crop cycle/gestation and payback period of the project. Meanwhile, tenor for fixed asset acquisition is based on project cash flow but not more than the economic useful life of fixed assets or remaining useful life for second hand/refurbished machines. For permanent working capital and working capital, tenor of up to three (3) years and one (1) year, respectively, is provided. President Borromeo also expressed support for the establishment of coconut-based farming systems, and the adoption of coconut-coffee intercropping to help coconut farmers become more profitable. As explained by National Scientist and CAMP Chairman Dr. Emil Q. Javier during the webinar, coconut-based farming system is the practice of growing other high-value crops, such as coffee, cacao, bananas, papaya, pineapple and vegetables, under the coconuts. Considering the increasing demand for coffee in the country, he said that intercropping of coffee with coconut trees will help farmers generate more income. “We fully agree that a coconut-based farming system will increase productivity and farmers’ income, and promote value-adding operation. We also support promoting the adoption of coconut-coffee intercrop. Aside from the technical requirement for shade to young coffee plants, this production model will lead to increased land productivity and farmers’ income,” President Borromeo said. Interested borrowers of the LANDBANK Coco-Financing Program and Sulong Saka Program 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.
READ MOREBus operators in need of capital to modernize their fleet may avail of a new lending program being offered by the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) The state-owned bank has initially earmarked P3 billion for its I-RESCUE for BUS Transport (Interim REhabilitation Support to Cushion Unfavorably-affected Enterprises by Covid-19 for Better Urban Services Transport) Lending Program. This targets public transport cooperatives and corporations for the purchase of modern public utility buses, in support of the Metro Manila Bus Modernization Program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). “The I-RESCUE for BUS Transport Lending Program offers responsive financing to PUB operators to invest in new buses equipped with the latest innovative technology. This also forms part of LANDBANK’s support to the DOTr and LTFRB towards building a modernized transport system that provides commuters with safe, reliable, and convenient transportation services,” LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said. Qualified enterprises may borrow up to eighty percent (80%) of the acquisition cost of the PUB, at an affordable fixed interest rate of 5% per annum for the first three (3) years—payable up to a maximum of seven (7) years, inclusive of the two-year grace period on principal. The DOTr launched the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program in 2017, with the goal of making the country's public transportation system efficient and environmentally friendly. The program calls for the phasing out not just buses but also jeepneys and other public utility vehicles that are at least 15 years old and replacing them with safer, more comfortable, and more environmentally-friendly alternatives LANDBANK will make available the I-RESCUE for BUS Transport Lending Program until December 31, 2021. 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), or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).
READ MOREPhilippine Army personnel from Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac show-off their new LANDBANK Visa Debit Cards acquired through the LANDBANK Digital Onboarding System (DOBS)—an online account opening platform that reduces the account opening time and simplifies the account enrolment process for the Bank’s clients. For its efficient online account opening through the Digital Onboarding System (DOBS), state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has received a commendation from the Philippine Army (PA) for making it easier for new clients like Army recruits to open payroll accounts online. In a letter addressed to LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo, PA Finance Center Director Col. Seigfred C. Tubalado expressed his gratitude to the Bank as DOBS has allowed their new enlisted personnel to conveniently open LANDBANK ATM payroll accounts. “We are elated to have benefitted from the DOBS. This is a welcome development as the system complements with the Finance Center Philippine Army’s commitment to continually provide effective and efficient financial services for the Philippine Army,” said Col. Tublado in his letter. Launched in 2019, the LANDBANK DOBS is a pioneering web application among Philippine banks that reduces the account opening time from 30-45 minutes to only 10 minutes turnaround time. It effectively simplifies the account enrolment process for individuals and institutional clients, both private and government. “The timely acquisition of an ATM payroll account card prior to deployment in the field has been crucial to our soldier’s sense of well-being, and has helped many to focus on the accomplishments of the mission,” Col. Tublado added. The Philippine Army is among the various government agencies that have utilized the DOBS for its hassle-free features, with a total of 1,717 payroll accounts opened through the online system for new Army recruits attending pre-entry courses at the PA’s Armor School, Armor Division stationed at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac. “This commendation is a proof that LANDBANK is on the right track in providing more accessible services for our stakeholders. As we adapt to the changing landscape of the banking industry, we will continue to improve and digitize our systems to deliver a more delightful banking experience to our clients,” President Borromeo said. Even with just a year of implementation, the DOBS has already recorded a total of 988,711 accounts opened as of end-August 2020. This milestone led to the addition of a new feature which now allows existing DOBS account holders to update their information through the system. Opening an account through the DOBS also provides automatic enrollment to the LANDBANK iAccess, the Bank’s internet banking system, that aims to decongest client visits in its branches, especially during the pandemic. This automatic enrollment also allows clients to enjoy the full features of the LANDBANK Mobile App for convenient banking transactions through their smartphones, and the LANDBANK Link.BizPortal for payment of products and services to the enrolled merchants in the system. For this banking innovation, LANDBANK has been recognized as “Asia’s Most Inclusive Bank” by the Financial Insights Innovation Awards 2019, and was conferred as “Digital Trailblazer in Financial Services” by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Access the DOBS through the LANDBANK’s official website (www.landbank.com) or through the Digital Corner of selected LANDBANK branches dedicated for walk-in clients who wish to access the system. For more information about LANDBANK’s DOBS, clients may contact the nearest open LANDBANK 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.
READ MOREAs part of its aggressive drive to deliver intensified support to the country’s agriculture sector, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has released a total of P11.93 billion in loans under the Sulong Saka Program or High-Value Crops Financing as of July 31, 2020. A significant portion, or P3.45 billion of these loans were released to support projects in the production of oil palm, followed by projects financed in the production of banana and other fruits, with corresponding P1.88 billion and P1.35 billion loan releases, respectively. A total of 992 borrowers from 72 provinces across the country have availed of the Program. Of these borrowers, 421 are Small Farmers and Fishers (SFFs), 302 are cooperatives, 183 are Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and the remaining 86 are Countryside Financial Institutions (CFIs), Large Agribusiness Enterprises (LAEs)/corporations, associations, Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), Local Government Units (LGUs), Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC), and Financial Institutions (FIs). The LANDBANK Sulong Saka Program, which was launched in December last year, was designed to promote wider crop diversification, particularly for high-value crops such as banana, cacao, cassava, coffee, oil palm, rubber, and vegetables, among others. “Crop diversity is essential to attain local food security, especially during this health crisis. Through the LANDBANK Sulong Saka Program, we see that more and more farmers are being encouraged to engage in the production of high-value commodities, helping the country attain food security,” LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said. Aside from promoting crop production, the Program also supports projects that involve the processing and marketing of high-value crops. Eligible borrowers can apply for the establishment of nursery, budwood or mother and plant or parent clone gardens; new plantation, replanting, rejuvenation, and rehabilitation of old trees; post-harvest activities, and processing or manufacturing; as well as trading and export activities. Under the Sulong Saka Program, small farm holders may apply for loans with an affordable interest rate of 5% per annum. For other eligible borrowers, however, interest is based on prevailing market benchmark rate. Production loans under the Program are payable based on crop cycle or gestation and payback period of the project. Meanwhile, tenor for fixed asset acquisition is based on project cash flow but not more than the economic useful life of fixed assets or remaining useful life for second hand or refurbished machines. For permanent working capital and working capital, tenor of up to three (3) years and one (1) year, respectively, is provided. Interested borrowers of the LANDBANK Sulong Saka Program 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.
READ MOREGoodyear Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GARBEMCO) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) have been partners for rubber production in Zamboanga Sibugay since 1995, which helped sustain the co-op’s operations despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, through business diversification. KABASALAN, Zamboanga Sibugay – For the past 28 years, Goodyear Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GARBEMCO) has relied mainly on their 1000-hectare rubber and intercropped plantation to generate income for their 312 members who are Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs). But the COVID-19 crisis early this year dealt their rubber trading business with a heavy blow. “GARBEMCO’s rubber trading halted during the pandemic. There were no traders, and manufacturing plants stopped operating. So the co-op had to focus on its other businesses to ensure income for its members,” said LANDBANK Zamboanga del Sur Lending Center Head Engr. Joselito S. Año. Determined to stay afloat, the co-op turned to palay production and trading, and the operation of their consumer store and fishpond, among other businesses, which it already established early on through financial assistance from Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK). “Ang inspirasyon talaga namin para magpatuloy sa operasyon kahit na may pandemic ay yung aming pamilya at yung pamilyang nabuo namin sa co-op. Kaya nag-bayanihan talaga kami para lang masigurado na tuloy ang pinagkakakitaan at kabuhayan ng mga miyembro namin,” said GARBEMCO General Manager Lilia Manuel. LANDBANK and GARBEMCO’s partnership started in 1995 when the co-op availed of the Bank’s Agricultural Production Loan (APL) and Short Term Loan (STL) for the capital of their rubber production, and later on used it to diversify its businesses. “Ang laking tulong ng LANDBANK sa paglaki ng GARBEMCO. At marami pa kaming mga proyekto sa coop na gusto namin i-develop sa tulong pa rin ng LANDBANK, gaya ng agri-tourism through a hot spring resort,” GM Manuel added. With the relaxing quarantine restrictions in the province, GARBEMCO is now starting to engage anew in rubber trading. The harvests that they stored in their warehouse for the last 5 months, totaling to some 350 tons of rubber, are gradually becoming profitable again for their ARB members. LANDBANK remains steadfast in providing accessible financial channels to ARBs. As of June 2020, cumulative loan releases of two lending programs for ARBs and small farmers have already reached P583.35 million, under the Bank’s E-ARISE-ARBs (Expanded Assistance to Restore and Install Sustainable Enterprises for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and Small Farm Holders) loan program, and the CAP-PBD (Credit Assistance Program for Program Beneficiaries Development) Window III Program Extension. For more information about LANDBANK’s Lending Programs, 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.
READ MOREGet up to Php150 off on your Food Panda transactions when you pay with Visa. Pay with your Visa card on your next Food Panda purchase. Redemption Channel: Food Panda on the App Store or Play Store. Terms & Conditions 1. This offer is open to all food panda users, or those who download the Food Panda app and use a Visa card to pay for the first time. 2. Promo period is from August 10, 2020 to September 30, 2020. Offer is available on all Mondays to Thursdays of the promo period. 3. To avail of the offer, a Visa cardholder must have a food panda app. For new users, the food panda app may be downloaded free on the on the App Store or Playstore. 4. The food panda app user must register and use a Visa card for the first time in order to avail of the offer. 5. For a minimum purchase of at least Php500, the cardholder is entitled to Merchant Offers Resource Center Content Downloaded On: August 20, 2020 07:54 2 Php100 off on his first food panda purchase; The Php100 will automatically be provided to the cardholder upon check out using the qualified Visa card. 6. Upon successful purchase, the Visa cardholder will receive a Php50 voucher on the app within 1 business day. 7. The voucher can be used on a succeeding food panda transaction, provided the transaction meets the minimum purchase requirement of Php500, and be paid using the same qualified Visa card. 8. Vouchers expire on Sept 30, 2020. The offer and voucher are for single-use only, non-transferrable and not convertible to cash.
READ MORELANDBANK MOBILE BANKING APPLICATION (MBA) User Guide for LANDBANK Mastercard Credit Cardholders Table of Contents 1. Activate your credit card 2. View your account details 3. View your Statements of Account 4. Change the PIN of your credit card 5. Pay your credit card 6. FAQs ACTIVATE YOUR CREDIT CARD • In the LANDBANK Mobile Banking app, tap the Mobile Banking icon then log in using your iAccess ID and password, or Face ID or Biometrics, if supported by your phone. • Upon successful login, go to the More menu. Select Activate Credit Card. • Enter your credit card number and expiry date. Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number and click submit. Then confirm the activation of your credit card. VIEW YOUR ACCOUNT DETAILS • In the LANDBANK Mobile Banking app, tap the Mobile Banking icon then log in using your iAccess ID and password, or Face ID or Biometrics, if supported by your phone. • If your credit card is not yet registered, go to the More menu. Select Register1 Credit Card. Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number and click submit. Then confirm the registration of your credit card. • In the Accounts menu, click the Mastercard credit card account to view its details: ✓ Credit Limit ✓ Available Credit Limit ✓ Outstanding Amount with Instalment ✓ Outstanding Amount without Instalment ✓ Available Cash Limit ✓ Last Payment Date ✓ Last Payment Amount ✓ Statement Balance ✓ Statement Date ✓ Minimum Amount Due ✓ Payment Due Date ✓ Loyalty points 1To unregister, go to the More menu, then tap Unregister Credit Card. VIEW YOUR STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT • To view your latest statement of account (SOA), from the Credit Card Account Inquiry screen, select Statement of Account. • You may view your Statement of Account for the last three (3) months. CHANGE THE PIN OF YOUR CREDIT CARD • In the LANDBANK Mobile Banking app, tap the Mobile Banking icon then log in using your iAccess ID, and password, or Face ID or Biometrics, if supported by your phone. • Upon successful login, go to the More menu. Select Change Credit Card PIN. • Enter your date of birth, CVV and new PIN. • Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number and click submit. Then confirm the change in the PIN of your credit card. PAY YOUR CREDIT CARD • In the LANDBANK Mobile Banking app, tap the Mobile Banking icon then log in using your iAccess ID and password, or Face ID or Biometrics, if supported by your phone. • In the Payment menu, select LANDBANK MASTERCARD and the source account to be debited. • Enter your 16-digit credit card number and the amount to be paid. Then click submit. • Confirm the details before finalizing the transaction. • A screen shall appear to confirm that transaction has been successful and that receipt was sent to your mail. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Click here for the FAQs. For inquiries, you may contact our 24/7 Customer Care Hotline at (02) 8-405-7000 or 1-800-10-405-7000 (PLDT Domestic Toll Free Hotline), or send an email to customercare@mail.landbank.com.
READ MOREThe Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) continues to support the government program to put in new and safer public utility jeepneys (PUJs) on the street. As of August 31, 2020, LANDBANK has approved a total of P737.21 million in loans to 16 borrowers nationwide for the purchase of 407 modern jeepneys under the SPEED PUV SPEED PUV (Special Package for Environment-Friendly and Efficiently-Driven Public Utility Vehicles) Loan Program. Launched in March 2019, the LANDBANK facility offers financing to public transport cooperatives or corporations to help them make the shift to more efficient and safer vehicles. This is in connection with the Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program (PUVMP), spearheaded by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), with the goal of making the country's public transportation system efficient boost passenger safety and prevent pollution by imposing an age limit for transport vehicles that allowed to operate. “The SPEED PUV Program is geared towards supporting our jeepney operators with accessible and affordable financing to purchase modernized jeepneys. Together with the DOTr and LTFRB, LANDBANK is committed to the improvement of the country's transport system and the convenient and safe mobility of the riding public,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. Modern jeepneys currently cost around P2.2 and P2.4 million. Unlike the clunky and noisy jeepneys, these are equipped with safety and convenient features such as curb-side passenger entrance and exit access, air-conditioning, closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, and Global Positioning System (GPS), among others. LANDBANK’s SPEED PUV Program allows borrowers to loan up to ninety-five percent (95%) of the total acquisition cost of the PUJ, at an affordable interest rate of six percent (6%) per annum and payable up to a maximum of seven (7) years. LANDBANK is also offering a similar program for bus operators. The government bank recently launched a P3-billion program for the purchase of modern public utility buses, in support of the Metro Manila Bus Modernization Program of the DOTr-LTFRB. The loan facility is being offered through the Bank’s I-RESCUE for BUS Transport (Interim REhabilitation Support to Cushion Unfavorably-affected Enterprises by Covid-19 for Better Urban Services Transport) Lending Program. 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.
READ MOREAnnie Suela, a watermelon farmer from Sibalom, Antique, availed of LANDBANK’s Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) loan program in 2019 to finance her watermelon production. With the existing quarantine protocols due to COVID-19, Suela once again relied on LANDBANK’s assistance to cushion the effect of the pandemic on her livelihood. SIBALOM, Antique – The strict quarantine imposed by the government due to the Covid-19 pandemic played a key role in a former overseas worker’s “refreshed” source of income. Just like everybody who became unsure of how things will turn out as a result of the lockdowns, watermelon farmer Annie Suela found herself in a predicament as to how she and her two children will survive. But thanks to Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), her two-hectare watermelon farm managed to survive despite the COVID-19 lockdowns. A former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Hong Kong, Suela heard over the radio about LANDBANK’s offer of low interest rates and simpler requirements for small farmers. “In December 2019, Ms. Suela was granted a credit line under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) loan program to finance the needs of her watermelon production. This also led to job generation for farm workers in their area who help prepare and till their farm,” said LANDBANK Iloilo Lending Center Head Inocentes Y. Ypanto, Jr. The ACEF fund facility, administered by LANDBANK, allows micro and small enterprises, farmers’ and fishers’ cooperatives and associations, as well as individual farmers to borrow up to 95 percent of total project cost. The funds can be used to purchase farm input and equipment or acquire/establish agri-based production and processing machineries, equipment and facilities. Suela recounted that she had a hard time keeping her watermelon farm afloat. With the limited transportation in the province resulting from the lockdown, Suela’s programmed deliveries to Manila and Boracay were disrupted. “Grabe yung experience namin dahil sa lockdown. Kahit ang dami naming pananim na watermelon, wala kaming kinikita dahil wala talagang bumibili at walang bumi-byahe sa mga terminal. (We experienced difficulties because of the lockdown. Nobody wants to buy our watermelon and any means of transporting our produce to the markets practically stopped),” Suela said. But these challenges did not break her spirit. Even with the lower profit and logistics issues, she continued to look for ways to sell her watermelons. On top of that, she also ensured that her outstanding balance with LANDBANK were paid in full to be eligible for a re-loan that she has been eyeing even before the pandemic. “Kahit na pandemic, sinikap ko talaga na makapagbayad kasi gusto ko mapanatili yung credit line ko sa LANDBANK para sa farm namin. Nag-focus kami sa pagbebenta ng mga vegetable para mabayaran yung balance namin. (Despite the pandemic, I tried my best to pay our loan obligation so I can maintain our credit line with LANDBANK. We focused on selling vegetables instead),” Suela explained. For Suela, ACEF was a welcome development for their financial needs compared to the usual unfair terms of illegal moneylenders. She is also is thankful for taking the leap with LANDBANK as it served as her safety net, especially during the strict lockdown period. “Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa LANDBANK kasi ang bilis din ma-approve ng re-loan ko kahit may pandemic. Within four days, na-credit na agad sa account ko yung loan kaya may pang-capital na ulit kami. Kung wala ang LANDBANK, hindi ko na alam kung saan kami kukuha ng pangsimula ulit. Madali silang kausap at laging handang tumulong sa katulad kong small farmer. (I am thankful to LANDBANK because despite the pandemic, our re-loan was approved immediately. The loan amount that will be used for capital was credited to our account in just four days. I wouldn’t know where to get the funds to restart operations without LANDBANK. They are always willing to help small farmers like me),” Suela said. Suela and her family are slowly getting back on their feet as quarantine protocols nationwide are relaxed. Aside from the loan she availed from LANDBANK, she is also grateful for the financial literacy workshops and the technical trainings she received from the Bank and the Department of Agriculture to help her better manage the farm. She is also aiming for higher goals. Suela said she is interested in another loan program that will help her mechanize her farm and increase productivity of both the watermelon and vegetable farms. Interested borrowers of the LANDBANK ACEF loan program 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.
READ MOREState-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has extended a total of P20.86 billion in outstanding loans to 1,081 cooperatives and farmers’ associations as of end-August, as it expressed its continued commitment to support the role of local co-ops in getting communities and the economy back on its feet amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During the virtual celebration for Cooperative Month this October at the House of Representatives on Monday (October 5), with the theme, “Koop Kalinga sa Pandemya," LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo assured cooperatives of readily available credit facilities with low interest rates to finance recovery projects and initiatives. The virtual event was hosted by the House Committee on Cooperatives Development, which is headed by Coop-NATCCO party-list Rep. Sabiniano Canama. “As your long-time partner in growth, we in LANDBANK reaffirm our unwavering commitment and solidarity to the noble objectives of the cooperative sector. We recognize the important role of co-ops in helping revive the local economy, with your presence in communities, especially in the countryside,” said President Borromeo. As of August 2020, LANDBANK said outstanding loans to the agriculture sector reached P224.66 billion, of which P20.86 billion was extended to farmers’ co-ops. This amount includes P428 million in loans provided to cooperatives under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) and the Expanded Rice Credit Assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ERCA-RCEF) administered with the Department of Agriculture (DA), as well as the Socialized Credit Program under the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SCP-SIDA) in partnership with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA). The LANDBANK-managed ACEF aims to increase productivity of farmers and fishers by providing the necessary credit to farmers and fishers and their cooperatives and associations, and micro and small-scale enterprises, for the acquisition and establishment of production, postharvest, and processing machineries, equipment and facilities, farm inputs and improvement. A maximum of P5 million can be availed by farmer and fishers cooperatives, associations, and micro and small enterprises. The RCEF is mandated under the Rice Tariffication Law or Republic Act 11203 with a total of P10 billion to be allotted annually and will be incorporated under the General Appropriations Act to be used in boosting the agricultural productivity in the country and help the lives of farmers. Of this annual amount, P1 billion (P500 M per year for 2 years now) is allocated for credit which is being administered by LANDBANK. Meanwhile SCP-SIDA is funded by 15 percent (or about P300 million) of the annual P2-billion fund allocated for the development of the country’s sugar industry. President Borromeo said LANDBANK supports the government’s move to promote cooperatives and farmers’ associations—particularly those involved in the farming sector—as a means to achieve economies of scale and efficiency. Alongside extending loans, LANDBANK will also be providing financial literacy trainings to 220 micro and small co-ops from 92 unbanked municipalities under the FIT-Coop Program. Together with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), the program is designed to help improve the business operations and strengthen the capacity of cooperatives to access formal credit. Meanwhile, under the Bank’s SPEED PUV (Special Package for Environment-Friendly and Efficiently-Driven Public Utility Vehicles) Loan Program—which is implemented in partnership with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)—LANDBANK continues to accept and process loan applications from transport cooperatives. As of August this year, total loans approved for transport cooperatives reached P356 million for the acquisition of 197 modern units. Last April, LANDBANK also launched the I-RESCUE (Interim REhabilitation Support to Cushion Unfavorably-affected Enterprises by Covid-19) Lending Program for cooperatives that offers additional credit and loan restructuring under more flexible terms and conditions. “Once again, rest assured that LANDBANK stands shoulder to shoulder with you–our partners in cooperativism. Together, let us work our way to a new normal that promotes greater cooperation, resilience and sustained economic growth for one and all,” President Borromeo added. 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.
READ MOREAs of Fri, May 2, 2025
| Buying | Selling | |
|---|---|---|
| USD | 55.4 | 55.9 |
| JPY | 0.376062 | 0.390629 |
| EUR | 61.664004 | 64.057767 |
| GBP | 72.538526 | 75.35443 |
| HKD | 7.116675 | 7.647847 |
As of Wed, April 30, 2025
| UITF | NAVPU |
|---|---|
| Cash Management Fund | 1.558326 |
| Money Market Fund | 1.311473 |
| Money Market Plus Fund | 1.223865 |
| PERA Money Market Fund | 1.024157 |
| Medium-Term Bond Fund | 2.473735 |
| Bond Fund | 2.028301 |
| PERA Bond Fund | 1.202455 |
| Balanced Fund | 2.625609 |
| Growth Fund | 2.598945 |
| Alpha Equity Fund | 3.025756 |
| Blue Chip Equity Fund | 0.970814 |
| Equity Fund | 0.790417 |
| High Dividend Equity Fund | 1.009225 |
| US$ Money Market Fund | 1.432555 |
| Global $ Fund | 1.531474 |
