LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (4th from left) and Yovel East Research and Development, Inc. President and CEO James P. Amparo (3rd from left) formalize a collaboration to empower Filipino farmers with accessible financing for innovative farming solutions on 14 January 2025 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Manila. Joining them as witnesses are Go Negosyo Founder and ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines Chair Jose Ma. Concepcion III (2nd from left), Go Negosyo-KALAP Senior Adviser and former Agriculture Secretary Dr. William D. Dar (leftmost), and LANDBANK officials Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos (5th from left) and First Vice President Eden B. Japitana (rightmost).
In line with promoting modern and sustainable agriculture, LANDBANK and Yovel East Research and Development, Inc. (Yovel East) have recently partnered to further intensify support for Filipino farmers through accessible and increased financing and greater private-sector collaboration.
The partnership is set to expand the reach and impact of the LANDBANK AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program—designed to provide holistic and strategic support for key players in the agricultural value chain—and assist Yovel East in managing clustered farms to deliver comprehensive assistance to its farmer-beneficiaries.
LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and Yovel East President and CEO James P. Amparo formalized the partnership on 14 January 2025 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Manila. Present as witnesses were Go Negosyo Founder and ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines Chair Jose Ma. Concepcion III, Go Negosyo-KALAP Senior Adviser and former Agriculture Secretary Dr. William D. Dar, and LANDBANK officials Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos and First Vice President Eden B. Japitana.
“At LANDBANK, we believe that financial assistance is just one piece of the puzzle in addressing the challenges faced by the agricultural sector. Our mission extends to providing comprehensive support across the entire agricultural ecosystem,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz.
Under the partnership, Yovel East will serve as an anchor firm for the LANDBANK AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program and endorse potential borrowers to LANDBANK, while promoting technology-driven pre- and post-harvest facilities.
Yovel East, a leading agricultural enterprise in the Philippines, is transforming rice production through its innovative "WeWillRice Program," which delivers a fully integrated, end-to-end rice production process for clustered farms. The Program facilitates the buyback of palay and manages the wholesale or retail marketing of produce, which ensures stable markets, promotes efficiency, and maximizes benefits for farmers.
“Providing sustainability and consistency is always the thing that we want to achieve. Through this partnership, Yovel East assures that we will further expand the reach of AGRISENSO Plus and our WeWillRice Program to help more farmers,” said Yovel East President and CEO James Amparo.
For its part, LANDBANK will be extending to eligible partners endorsed by Yovel East the AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program that provides affordable financing to small farmers and fishers, Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), and the whole agriculture value chain, aimed at bolstering nationwide food security and sufficiency.
As of December 2024, the LANDBANK AGRISENSO Plus has supported 3,346 farmers with an outstanding loan portfolio amounting to P494.8 million.
LANDBANK remains committed to its mandate of promoting agriculture, fisheries and rural development, and empowering all players of the agriculture value chain and their communities towards a brighter future.
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.
LANDBANK, UTAC partner to support 8,000 farmers
LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (4th from left) and Unified Tiller Agriculture Cooperative (UTAC) CEO Artemio N. Guzman (5th from left) ink the collaboration through the LANDBANK AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program to empower over 8,000 farmers and ARB members of UTAC. Also present are Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Roger V. Navarro (leftmost), LANDBANK Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos (3rd from left), First Vice President Eden B. Japitana (2nd from left), UTAC Vice Chairman Earl P. Gorospe Jr. (6th from left), Treasurer Rizzean B. Jose (7th from left), Board Member Angelo S. Pineda (rightmost), and Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) Executive Director Ma. Cristina Lopez (8th from left). MANILA, Philippines — In a move to help boost rice production and cushion farmers from rising input costs, LANDBANK has partnered with the Unified Tiller Agriculture Cooperative (UTAC) under the Bank’s flagship AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program, further strengthening its support for rural livelihoods and the national food supply chain. The partnership aims to empower more than 8,000 farmers and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) with access to affordable financing, technical support, and stable market channels for their produce. “We firmly believe that meaningful change begins with meaningful collaborations. LANDBANK remains fully committed to supporting UTAC and their partners through accessible financing, technical assistance, and dedicated loan servicing—ensuring that no farmer is left behind in our shared journey,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. Under the collaboration, LANDBANK will provide the financing backbone and training support through its AGRISENSO Plus and ASCEND Programs. UTAC will provide the technology of Regenerative Farming protocols, supplies agricultural inputs, buy, process and sell agricultural outputs, extensive support and comprehensive assistance and increasing farmers’ profitability. The partnership signing on 14 April 2025 was led by LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz and UTAC CEO Artemio N. Guzman, with LANDBANK Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos, First Vice President Eden B. Japitana, UTAC Vice Chairman Earl P. Gorospe Jr., and Treasurer Rizzean B. Jose as witnesses. “We appreciate LANDBANK's steadfast support, and we are dedicated to uplifting our farmers not only through financial services but also by nurturing long-term growth opportunities,” said UTAC CEO Guzman. UTAC becomes the sixth anchor partner under the AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program, joining SariSuki, TAO Foods, KITA Agritech, Syntegral Global Solutions, and Yovel East in advancing modernization of the agriculture sector across the country. As of March 2025, LANDBANK has released P877.98 million in loans under AGRISENSO Plus, benefitting nearly 4,700 borrowers nationwide. This partnership underscores LANDBANK’s mandate to advance Philippine agriculture by empowering smallholder farmers and supporting the entire agri value chain. Through targeted financing and strong partnerships, the Bank continues to drive inclusive growth and strengthen national food security. 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. About UTAC The Unified Tiller Agriculture Cooperative (UTAC) is a cooperative based in Cagayan, Isabela, dedicated to improving the lives of rice farmers. UTAC focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting sustainable farming practices, and providing its members with the resources and support they need to thrive.
LEARN MORELANDBANK shines with dual honors at PDS Awards
LANDBANK bags two awards at the Philippine Dealing System (PDS) Annual Awards Night in recognition of its contributions to advancing the Philippine capital market. (Right photo) Accepting the awards on behalf of LANDBANK are Senior Vice President Gonzalo Benjamin A. Bongolan (2nd from left) and Assistant Vice President Glenn R. Aguda (3rd from left), presented by PDS Group President Ramon S. Monzon (leftmost) and PDEx President and CEO Antonio A. Nakpil (rightmost). MAKATI CITY, Philippines—Highlighting its growing contribution to advancing the Philippine capital market, LANDBANK was honored as one of the top-performing institutions at the 2025 Philippine Dealing System (PDS) Annual Awards Night. The state-run bank clinched 3rd place in the Top 5 Corporate Issue Managers/Arrangers – Bank Category, in recognition of its vital role in facilitating the issuance of corporate fixed-income securities in 2024. The award honors institutions that led or arranged the largest volume of listed corporate securities offered during the year. The Bank also ranked 4th among the Top 5 Fixed-Income Brokering Participants, highlighting the Bank’s strong presence in the fixed-income market and significant contribution to overall trading volume by face amount. LANDBANK Senior Vice President Gonzalo Benjamin A. Bongolan and Assistant Vice President Glenn R. Aguda accepted the awards on behalf of the Bank on 4 April 2025 at the Makati Diamond Residences. Since 2005, the PDS Group, comprising the Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, has been recognizing outstanding performance, leadership, innovation, and contributions to the capital market through its annual awards. These accolades underscore LANDBANK's strategic role in deepening the local capital markets, in line with its broader mission of supporting agriculture and other key development sectors in driving inclusive and sustainable development. 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.
LEARN MORELANDBANK extends P1.3-B financing for Isabela Feed Mill Complex
ILAGAN CITY, ISABELA — LANDBANK has sealed a financing deal with Sagittarian Agricultural Philippines, Inc. (SAPI) to support the construction of the Isabela Feed Mill Complex, reinforcing its commitment to advancing the country’s agricultural sector. Under the partnership, LANDBANK will provide a P1.2 billion loan to partially fund the development of the 15-hectare feed mill facility in the country’s corn capital, plus an additional P100 million credit line to support SAPI’s working capital needs. Strategically located in this city to maximize Isabela’s abundant corn supply, the Feed Mill Complex will be leased to Charoen Pokphand Philippines Corporation (CPFPC), a leading food and agro-industrial company and a long-standing LANDBANK client. The project is expected to increase corn prices from P1.00 to P2.00 per kilogram, benefiting an estimated 97,734 small farmers across Isabela and neighboring provinces. “With this investment, LANDBANK reaffirms its commitment to modernizing the agricultural sector, empowering local farmers, and strengthening the country’s food security and support the agriculture value chain,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. The loan and credit line signing ceremony was led by LANDBANK Northern Luzon Lending Group Head First Vice President Eduardo N. Reyes Jr. and Northern Isabela Lending Center Head Myra Myrtha M. Padolina, alongside SAPI President and CEO Jose Avelino C. Diaz and Corporate Secretary Atty. Danver Albert R. Arzaga. Also present as witnesses were City of Ilagan Mayor Josemarie L. Diaz, Vice Mayor Kyrill S. Bello, CPFPC Vice President Suchart Panparn, Assistant Vice President Darwin Lictawa, and LANDBANK Account Officer Honeylee B. Gomez. 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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