LANDBANK and PAFCPIC sign a P10-billion loan line to support the financial needs of AFP personnel and their families. Leading the ceremony are LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (2nd from right), PAFCPIC Chairman BGen. Francisco M. Paredes (Ret) (3rd from right), LANDBANK Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos (rightmost), and PAFCPIC President BGen. Fernando S. Zabat (Ret) (leftmost).
Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has extended a P10-billion rediscounting line to support the Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative (PAFCPIC) and its members serving in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The state-run Bank expanded the Cooperative’s previous P8 billion credit line to P10 billion to sufficiently augment working capital and enable PAFCPIC to better serve the financial requirements of its more than 190,000 members.
PAFCPIC's membership consists of active and retired military and civilian personnel from the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Air Force, as well as their immediate dependents.
The ceremonial loan signing event was led by LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and PAFCPIC Chairman BGen. Francisco M. Paredes (Ret), alongside LANDBANK Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste Burgos and PAFCPIC President BGen. Fernando S. Zabat (Ret) on 29 May 2024 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Manila.
Also present as witnesses were LANDBANK Senior Vice President Lucila E. Tesorero and Vice President Leonardo D. Aurellana Jr., with PAFCPIC Vice President MGen. Rolando V. Picar (Ret) and Executive Vice President BGen. Anastacio C. Cabading.
"By boosting your financial resources and upgrading your operational efficiency through our digital solutions, we look to further improve your service delivery to your members and the entire armed forces community," said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz.
Apart from the financial assistance, LANDBANK likewise pledged to support PAFCPIC's digitalization efforts by onboarding the Cooperative to the Bank’s web-based payment platform, Link.BizPortal, which will streamline the collection of payments for its members’ capital contributions, deposits, and loans, thereby enhancing their operational efficiency.
“This milestone is a manifestation of almost three decades of business collaboration between PAFCPIC and LANDBANK, nurtured and nourished with trust and confidence. We are grateful for LANDBANK's unwavering support, which has been instrumental in enabling us to better serve our members and their families,” said PAFCPIC Chairman Paredes.
LANDBANK conferred PAFCPIC with the Distinguished Initiators and Movers of National Development (DIAMOND) Award last year, for the co-op’s contributions to promoting countryside and national development. The LANDBANK DIAMOND Award honors exceptional Bank clients, fund management and digital banking partners that have made positive change in the communities they serve.
LANDBANK remains committed to providing robust financial solutions to cooperatives and its members nationwide towards promoting countryside to countrywide development.
ABOUT LANDBANK
LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation and sustainable development to benefit Filipinos. As the only Bank present in all 82 provinces in the county, 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.
LANDBANK and Antonio’s partnership: Business recipe for success
From a single restaurant with 30 employees, Antonio "Chef Tony Boy" Escalante managed to translate his love for cooking into a culinary empire of multiple restaurants across the Philippines with support from LANDBANK. TAGAYTAY CITY – Just like having the right ingredients to create gastronomic experiences, to having an excellent team of chefs in the kitchen, it also takes the right people and partnerships to build a successful restaurant business. This adage rings true for Antonio "Chef Tony Boy" Escalante and the remarkable journey of the Antonio’s Group of Restaurants. Chef Tony Boy started his career not in the kitchen but in dentistry school. He then traded the dental chair for the open skies, working as a cabin crew member for Philippine Airlines for nearly a decade. However, he was only able to spread his wings and fly when he finally decided to pursue his ultimate passion – cooking. His culinary journey began at the Regency Park Institute of TAFE in Adelaide, Australia, where he honed his skills through various kitchen jobs before returning home to the Philippines. In Manila, he spent three years refining his culinary skills at the prestigious Tivoli Grill in the Mandarin Oriental Manila. In 2002, Chef Tony Boy's culinary dream materialized with the opening of his namesake restaurant in Tagaytay City. The establishment quickly became a hallmark of fine dining, lauded for its exquisite cuisine and impeccable service. Antonio’s Restaurant soon garnered numerous accolades as one of the country’s most celebrated restaurants. From 2007 to 2014, it consistently won the Best Continental Restaurant Award at Manila's Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Awards. From 2008 to 2013, it was the sole Filipino entry in the Miele Guide's Top 20 Southeast Asian restaurants, even reaching number five in the 2010 edition. Antonio's also secured the top 48th spot on Asia's Best Restaurants in 2015. Expanding the Culinary Vision with LANDBANK Chef Tony Boy wanted to expand Antonio’s operations beyond a single restaurant. In 2006, he established the Escanova Ventures which housed Antonio’s Restaurant and Breakfast at Antonio’s. He then embarked on a new venture in 2015 and put up “Balay Dako,” a restaurant offering traditional local fare and fusion cuisine with great views of Taal Lake. This required significant financial investment, with more capital needed to see plans for further expansion materialize. In 2017, Chef Tony Boy turned to Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) for a P113-million loan. This was the start of a productive partnership that laid the groundwork for sustained growth and success. The LANDBANK support supplemented Escanova Ventures’ capital, which enabled the expansion of Antonio's Fine Dining and the renovation of Breakfast at Antonio's. The loan also helped build BP One Foods Inc. to spearhead the restaurant chain's expansion across Luzon. The state-run Bank also remained a steadfast partner throughout crises, offering financial solutions and support when Antonio's Group was tested during the 2019 Taal Volcano eruption and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic. "At the height of the pandemic, LANDBANK was there for us. They provided deferments, helped us analyze our finances, and offered tailored products that perfectly addressed our needs," shared Chef Tony Boy. Basti Escalante led the pivot to distribution and sale of Antonio’s popular products in Metro Manila during the pandemic through Pedro the Grocer. He has since played a significant role focusing on the retail side of the business. From then on, Basti became an active partner, focusing on the retail and business side of the Antonio’s chain of restaurants. This father-and-son collaboration further strengthened the Antonio's Group, allowing them to adapt and thrive amidst challenging circumstances. Empowered by LANDBANK's support, Chef Tony Boy emerged from the pandemic with renewed confidence to expand further. This financial backing and trust allowed the Antonio's Group to navigate the crises and adapt to grow amidst uncertainties. "LANDBANK believed in us, our goals, and how we run our business. This trust, even during the pandemic, was a stamp of approval that gave us the confidence to expand our ventures," said Chef Tony Boy. Cooking a Culinary Legacy What started as a single restaurant with a team of 30 has blossomed into a culinary empire of almost a thousand employees. Today, the Antonio's Group of Restaurants continues to flourish, driven by Chef Tony Boy's passion, Basti's innovative spirit, and the unwavering support of LANDBANK. "With LANDBANK's help, their banking expertise, and the dedication of their employees, we have been able to expand into Metro Manila and other cities. They have been instrumental in realizing our expansion plans," said Chef Tony Boy. Fueled by LANDBANK's commitment to empowering Filipino entrepreneurs, Chef Tony Boy’s story transcends mere culinary success. It's a narrative of how the right ingredients, the right people, and the right partnerships can create a recipe for business excellence. ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting inclusive and sustainable development to benefit Filipinos. The Bank is present in all 82 provinces in the country, committed to providing accessible and responsive financial support to key players and industries as part of its broader thrust of serving the nation.
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LANDBANK grants P120-M loan to boost Basilan town’s agri, infra dev’t
Tuburan Mayor Jhaber S. Kallahal (2nd from right) and LANDBANK Senior Vice President Charlotte I. Conde (center) lead the signing of a P120-million loan agreement to finance the Municipal Government of Tuburan’s acquisition of various heavy equipment. Joining them are Tuburan Municipal Treasurer Abubakar U. Mohammad (rightmost), LANDBANK Zamboanga City Lending Center Head Zenaida K. Valencia (4th from right) and Account Officer Jaydee N. Bongon (leftmost). TUBURAN, Basilan – Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has extended a P120-million loan to the Municipal Government of Tuburan for the purchase of various heavy equipment to speed-up construction and maintenance of farm-to-market roads and other crucial infrastructure projects across the town. The new equipment financed by the state-run Bank will enhance the municipality’s road network and provide over 1,500 local farmers and fishers with improved access to agricultural technology and farm material inputs, plus reduced transportation costs for their produce. The agreement between the Municipal Government of Tuburan and LANDBANK was formalized through a loan signing event led by Tuburan Mayor Jhaber S. Kallahal and LANDBANK Senior Vice President Charlotte I. Conde last 23 May 2024 in Zamboanga City. They were joined by Tuburan Municipal Treasurer Abubakar U. Mohammad, LANDBANK Zamboanga City Lending Center Head Zenaida K. Valencia and Account Officer Jaydee N. Bongon. The loan will support the local government’s strategic investments in promoting economic growth especially in the town’s underserved communities. “LANDBANK stands ready to serve the growth needs of partner local government units to bankroll initiatives that stimulate economic activities. This complements our efforts in support of the agriculture sector and other key industries contributing to building inclusive and sustainable local communities,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. The P120-million LANDBANK loan will be used by Tuburan LGU to purchase 10-wheeler dump trucks, 10-wheeler mixer trucks, wheel loaders, a hydraulic crawler excavator, and a 10-wheeler self-loading truck. This will help reduce operational costs associated with renting and subcontracting equipment for current and future construction projects across the town. The municipal government requires logistics to maintain existing road networks and other infrastructure projects. The funding from LANDBANK will be crucial in addressing this need and advancing local growth, considering that Tuburan is an agricultural community with most of its land area dedicated to coconuts, rubber, and cassava. “LANDBANK’s commitment to fostering economic growth and development in our region is truly commendable. The funds provided will enable us to implement crucial projects and initiatives that will benefit our citizens and enhance the overall quality of life in our Municipality,” said Tuburan Mayor Kallahal. “We value the strong partnership we have built with LANDBANK over the years and look forward to work together towards our shared vision of a thriving and prosperous community,” he added. LANDBANK is the biggest development partner of LGUs in the country, with outstanding loans reaching P113.6 billion as of April 2024. These loans support local development projects nationwide, including the acquisition of heavy equipment, construction and maintenance of farm-to-market roads, railways and bridges, utility projects, school and hospital buildings, street lights, and computerization of LGU operations, among others. ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation and sustainable development to benefit Filipinos. The Bank is present in all 82 provinces in the country, 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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LANDBANK Mobile App gets account-opening upgrade; usage up 96% in Q1 2024
Customers can now open a Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) savings account completely online via smartphones, as the Bank continues to serve the growing preference of customers for digital solutions and promote financial inclusion. LANDBANK has upgraded its Mobile Banking App (MBA) with a new straight-through account opening feature which allows customers to open a digital account instantly from anywhere, at any time, without visiting a LANDBANK Branch. Through the MBA, customers can open a LANDBANK PISO Plus basic deposit account, a regular LANDBANK Visa debit account, and the new GoBayani savings account designed for overseas Filipinos, to help build their savings and start their financial journey. To open a LANDBANK account, interested clients need only their smartphones downloaded with the latest version of the LANDBANK MBA, a secure internet connection, and any valid identification card such as a Philippine Passport, Driver’s License, SSS, UMID, PRC ID, or PhilSys ID. "We are dedicated to continue expanding our digital offerings to bring more Filipinos into the financial mainstream. Opening a LANDBANK account has never been easier, and we hope more customers can get to experience the benefits of our convenient and secure banking services," said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. The LANDBANK MBA is a free application that offers seamless and convenient online fund transfers, bills payments, balance inquiries, and salary loan services. Using the MBA, LANDBANK customers also enjoy free fund transfers to other banks via InstaPay and PESONet for the first three transactions in a day worth P1,000 and below. Q1 2024 Digital Banking Performance The LANDBANK MBA recorded a remarkable 96% increase in usage during the first three months of 2024, as transactions soared to 20.9 million from 10.7 million recorded in the same period in 2023. Fund transfers and bills payment transactions drove the transaction volume growth, as the MBA generated a 42% increase in total transaction value or P89.3 billion compared to P63 billion last year. The LANDBANK MBA also led the 63% growth or a total of 30.79 million transactions across all of the Bank’s major digital channels, reaching P1.95 trillion in total transaction value. The state-run Bank’s other digital channels include iAccess, an online retail banking channel; corporate internet banking platform, weAccess; web-based payment channel, Link.BizPortal; real-time web-based remittance system for overseas Filipinos, i-Easy Padala; alternative payment channel, Electronic Tax Payment System (eTPS); facility for institutional clients and national government partners, Electronic Modified Disbursement System (eMDS); and electronic bulk disbursement facility, Bulk Crediting System (LBCS). LANDBANK remains committed to enhancing its digital infrastructure to deliver seamless banking experiences and meet the evolving needs of customers. ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation and sustainable development to benefit Filipinos. The Bank is present in all 82 provinces in the country, 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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