(left) Pinoy Lingap-Damayan MPC (PLDC) officers and staff led by General Manager Antonio A. Jimenez, Jr., welcomes Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Region V Director Atty. Ma. Lourdes P. Pacao and LANDBANK Albay Lending Center Account Officer Armel A. Alcantara to their office building in Virac, Catanduanes. (right photos) PLDC farmer-members dry abaca fibers and prepare for its shipment.
VIRAC, Catanduanes – Pursuing a great vision requires a leap of faith. This proved to be true for a small group of Catandunganons when they resigned from their day jobs at a rural bank 10 years ago to start the People’s Livelihood Development Cooperative, which eventually became the Pinoy Lingap-Damayan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PLDC), now one of the biggest cooperative in the province of Catanduanes and the Bicol region, with more than 12,000 members.
PLDC, a cooperative engaged in microfinancing, and abaca processing and trading, was formed because 22 rural bank workers believed in their vision of improving the livelihood of their community. But it was a hard start-up for PLDC as a cooperative which had very limited funds to lend to its members. Due to financial problems, new members hesitated to join, while existing ones had to leave.
“Even my fellow founding members almost lost hope in our cooperative. But I made them realize that giving up would waste all our hard work and efforts for PLDC. I asked them for a little more patience, which eventually paid off,” said Antonio A. Jimenez, Jr., General Manager of PLDC.
They held on to keep the cooperative afloat until finally, in September 2011, LANDBANK offered a helping hand, granting them a rediscounting line to finance livelihood projects of its members, a lifeline that kept PLDC afloat, and helped it flourish. Soon, its members and capitalization continued to grow, and PLDC started expanding its operations, from offering micro-financing services to abaca processing and trading.
The co-op’s venture into the abaca industry offered an alternative market for abaca farmers in the province to sell their produce, which challenged the monopoly of traders who set prices too low. Because PLDC offered higher prices, traders were also forced to increase theirs to be at par with what the co-op was offering, thus helping stabilize and even increase the market price of abaca in the province.
For over 10 years, PLDC goes around the barangays to buy and haul abaca, saving farmers time and transportation expenses in going to the town proper to sell their produce. To date, the cooperative assists around 4,260 abaca farmers, and generates employment to more than a hundred locals, proving that the co-op is as resilient as the fibers of abaca.
Aside from abaca processing and trading, PLDC still offered financial services to their members, financing projects such as family-managed micro-businesses, low-cost housing construction and improvement, education of their children, and family emergency needs.
“We want to thank LANDBANK for trusting our cooperative. If it weren’t for them, our vision wouldn’t have become a reality. By providing us financial assistance, we were able to extend and help those who needed it the most–the farmers,” added Jimenez.
At present, PLDC remains LANDBANK’s major growth partner in Catanduanes, with a credit line covering three facilities: rediscounting line, working capital for abaca trading/processing, and term loan for the cooperative’s office building. They have also expanded into four branches covering 11 towns of Catanduanes.
LANDBANK backs co-op to expand services for uniformed personnel
LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (3rd from right) and ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative Chairman MGen Gilbert S. Llanto AFP (Ret) (4th from right) lead the signing of a loan agreement on 08 April 2024 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Manila to boost the co-op’s working capital. The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has extended financial support to the ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative (MPC) to boost the co-op’s working capital catering to uniformed personnel. The state-run Bank has granted ACDI MPC rediscounting lines to provide affordable credit for its over 269,000 members, including active and retired members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other uniformed personnel. The ACDI MPC is the largest cooperative in the country in terms of assets. The LANDBANK support will help the co-op offer more loan packages at friendly rates to help members buy their dream home and vehicle, establish a business, or send their kids to school. “Since 1996, we are proud to have supported ACDI MPC’s growth and expansion into one of the largest cooperatives in the country. We will remain committed to strengthening the co-op’s working capital to boost its lending activities for our uniformed personnel, and support expansion plans in their other business lines,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz and ACDI MPC Chairman MGen Gilbert S. Llanto AFP (Ret) led the signing of the loan agreement on 08 April 2024 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Malate, Manila. They were joined by ACDI MPC President BGen Alfredo G. Ramirez AFP (Ret), Executive Vice Presidents Esperanza G. Cauyan and Juliet B. Saavedra, LANDBANK Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos and Senior Vice President Lucila E. Tesorero. “Today, the confidence that LANDBANK has put on us will reflect on the way our people will also operate. Being the leading financial institution of the government, I think it’s a good affirmation of how far ACDI has gone also,” said ACDI MPC Chairman Llanto. LANDBANK is also supporting the ACDI MPC’s digitalization journey for enhanced operations and services through the Bank’s suite of digital banking solutions. The co-op is currently utilizing the LANDBANK weAccess for select banking transactions and the e-Tax Payment System (eTPS) for paying taxes online. Last year, ACDI MPC received the prestigious LANDBANK Distinguished Initiators and Movers of National Development (DIAMOND) Award for Outstanding Non-Agri-based Cooperative during the Bank’s 60th anniversary client commemoration event on 08 August 2023. As of end-February 2024, LANDBANK’s outstanding loans to the cooperative sector have reached P73.8 billion for the benefit of nearly 1,400 agri and non-agri-based co-ops nationwide. 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 providing accessible and affordable financial support to key players and industries as part of its broader thrust of serving the nation.
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Davao cacao co-op relishes sweet success via LANDBANK partnership
The Biao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (BARBCO) led by General Manager Guadalupe Ocial has grown into a prominent cacao industry player in the Davao region through a productive partnership with LANDBANK. DAVAO CITY – From its humble beginnings to the success it is now reaping, the growth of the Biao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (BARBCO) is deeply rooted in the soil of collective endeavor, resilience, and fruitful partnerships. BARBCO was established in 1992 by former employees of the defunct Philippine Cocoa States Corporation, and initially ventured into the Lakatan banana industry. BARBCO has since grown into a prominent agriculture player in the region, primarily engaged in cocoa production, marketing, and cocoa liquor and chocolate production. It now has 41 regular members and 215 associate members. Their journey, however, was not without challenges. BARBCO General Manager Guadalupe Ocial admits that the 200 hectares of land awarded to them as Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) was a significant opportunity, but needed much work to really establish a productive and sustainable business. They needed enough working capital to fuel their growth—and this was where the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) stepped in. BARBCO first turned to LANDBANK for support during the co-op’s early beginnings in the 1992 when they availed funding for Lakatan banana production. This relationship grew over the years and paved the way for their successful venture into the cacao value chain in 2016. General Manager Ocial emphasizes the importance of this partnership especially in streamlining the process of securing financial assistance whenever they needed it. BARBCO first gained prominence in 2018 as the producer of Chocolate de Biao or "hugot chocolates" which featured sentimental lines, that became popular especially among the younger market. "Because of this long-standing relationship we have with LANDBANK, it was easier for us to process documents for the assistance we need," said General Manager Ocial. Today, BARBCO's portfolio includes the consolidation and processing of cacao beans into various chocolate products, including tablea, nibs, cacao butter, and powder. This access to credit and ease of doing business with LANDBANK has empowered BARBCO to expand their reach. What began with cacao bean consolidation solely within Davao City has now extended to Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, and Davao del Sur. And the cooperative's success extends beyond financial gains. BARBCO serves as a conduit of support from LANDBANK to its farmer members, ensuring fair compensation for their produce. This commitment to uplifting local farmers has garnered attention even from international food corporations, who now supply cacao beans to BARBCO, drawn by the promise of equitable pricing. "As a cooperative, we are like a channel of the support of LANDBANK. So whatever we get from LANDBANK, we provide it to our farmer members by making sure that we give them the best price for their cacao beans," explained General Manager Ocial. Even during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, BARBCO stood resilient, thanks in no small part to the partnership with LANDBANK. Through prudent management and unwavering support, they were able to sustain their workforce, ensuring that employees are properly compensated amid limited operations. For General Manager Ocial, BARBCO's success is not measured solely in profits but in the fulfillment of a collective vision. As she reflects on their journey, she underscores the legacy that the co-op aims to leave behind—a legacy of empowerment, shared prosperity, and community upliftment. "It's a legacy na maiiwan, because I'm not really after my own gain and profit. As long as I can provide for my family, I’m fulfilled. As long as my members and workers are happy and satisfied, then so am I," she added. As BARBCO continues to sow the seeds of success, their partnership with LANDBANK remains steadfast—a testament to the transformative power of collaboration in driving inclusive growth and prosperity in the rich agricultural landscape of Davao and beyond. 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.
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From national security to food security: Retired cop pursues farming thru LANDBANK
After 25 years in service, retired policeman Ritchie Tenegra ventured into poultry farming, and through LANDBANK’s support, now contributes to enhancing food security for the local community. LEON, Iloilo – From his sworn oath to ‘serve and protect’ the community for 25 years as a dedicated police officer, Ritchie Tenegra shifted his focus towards an equally meaningful purpose: food security. He has since embraced retirement by pursuing his other passion of poultry farming, and is now one of the reliable food suppliers in this town. At a young age, Ritchie saw the potential of animal farming through his parents who owned a piggery. He later followed their footsteps and established his own small piggery in his backyard in 2010 as an additional source of income to support his family. While still in the police force, he had limited capital to start his piggery operations. So Ritchie applied to be a beneficiary of the Swine Dispersal Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), and was provided his very first piglet that he grew and multiplied. “Mahirap pagsabayin ang pagpupulis at pag-aalaga ng baboy, pero kailangan ng tiyaga dahil kulang talaga para sa pamilya ko ang sahod ko, lalo na’t may mga anak akong nag-aaral,” he said. (It's hard to be a police enforcer and raise pigs at the same time, but it takes patience because my salary is really not enough for my family, especially since I have children still in school.) Encouraged by a fellow cop to diversify his farm with a chicken coop, he delved into poultry farming in 2013, starting with a mere 20 heads. Upon retiring from the service in 2020, Ritchie dedicated himself to full-time farming, and applied for a loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) to expand his piggery. However, just a week after his loan was approved, the African Swine Flu outbreak hit the country, which devastated the local pig industry. Eager to push through with his new purpose, Ritchie shifted his focus towards expanding his chicken coop through LANDBANK's Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Lending Program, where he secured a P1 million loan to fund the improvement of his poultry farm in 2022. "Malaking tulong talaga ang LANDBANK sa pagpapalago ng manukan ko. Saan ka makakita ng loan sa bangko na isang milyon, tapos P20,000 lang ang interes taon-taon? Kaya malaki talaga ang pasalamat ko sa LANDBANK," Ritchie said. (LANDBANK has really been a huge help in growing my chicken coop. Where can you find a bank loan of one million, then the interest is only P20,000 every year? So I am really grateful to LANDBANK.) From the 20 chickens in a 4-by-6-meter coop in his backyard, the loan supported the scaling up of his poultry operations to an increase in his flock size to 2,000 breeders, and the expansion of his coop to cover an area of 2,000 square meters. In less than a year since his expansion, Ritchie has become a reliable supplier for the DA’s Chicken Dispersal Project, wherein they give away hens to aspiring poultry farmers—just like Ritchie once was. He has also become an established supplier of poultry products for local eateries and restaurants. “Kung hindi dahil sa LANDBANK, hindi lalaki nang ganito itong manukan namin. Malaki talaga ang naitulong ng LANDBANK sa pamilya ko,” said Ritchie. (If it wasn't for LANDBANK, our chicken coop wouldn't grow like this. LANDBANK really helped my family a lot.) LANDBANK remains steadfast in its commitment to servicing the growth requirements of farmers like Ritchie nationwide. In partnership with the DA, LANDBANK provides necessary credit to farmers and fishers, plus their cooperatives and associations, as well as micro and small enterprises (MSMEs) through the ACEF Lending Program, which helps increase their production and enhance their competitiveness. As of January 2024, LANDBANK has released a total of P12.1 billion in loans under the ACEF program towards fostering sustainable and inclusive growth in the agriculture sector. 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 accessible and responsive financing to drive the agriculture sector’s productivity and competitiveness, while championing sustainable development in the countryside.
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