To boost local rice production amid challenges faced by the rice industry, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has released P2.2 billion in loans to 13,701 rice farmers and cooperatives as of 31 July 2023 through the Expanded Rice Credit Assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ERCA-RCEF).
A total of P1.1 billion of the Bank’s loan releases under ERCA-RCEF directly financed palay production of individual rice farmers listed under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), while P507.5 million was earmarked for relending of cooperatives to its rice farmer-members; P394.1 million for rice trading and milling; and P222 million for the purchase of farm machineries and equipment.
“LANDBANK is doing its share to strengthen local rice production by providing accessible and responsive financial assistance to rice farmers. In partnership with the DA, the ERCA-RCEF program forms part of our commitment to advance the agriculture sector and empower Filipino farmers,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz.
Of the 13,701 beneficiaries, 4,783 hailed from Region 2, particularly the rice-producing provinces of Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.
LANDBANK also assisted 1,858 beneficiaries from Region 3; 1,463 from Region 6; 1,334 from Region 13; 1,323 from Region 4-B; and the rest from Regions 1, 4-A, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
“Malaki ang naitulong ng ERCA-RCEF sa aming pagsasaka dahil mababa ang interes nito kumpara sa ibang pautang. Sana ay magtuloy-tuloy pa ang Programang ito para marami pang magsasakang kagaya ko ang matulungan,” said Noemi C. Negrillo, a 68-year-old rice farmer from Quirino province who was able to purchase farm inputs and sustain her rice production through a loan under the ERCA-RCEF.
Implemented in partnership with the DA, the ERCA-RCEF is a credit facility which aims to boost the productivity and income of small rice farmers and their cooperatives, and cushion the initial impact of Republic Act No. 11203, also known as the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).
LANDBANK has fully disbursed the allocated fund for ERCA-RCEF from 2019 to 2022, and shall continue to make available P500 million in loans annually until 2024 to cooperatives and rice farmers registered under the RSBSA in the country’s 38 rice-producing provinces.
The ERCA-RCEF Program allows individual rice farmers to borrow up to 90% of their total project cost at a low fixed interest rate of 2% per year.
The loan may be used to purchase farm inputs for rice and rice seed production, farm machineries and equipment for production and post-production, working capital for rice and seed trading, as well as relending and rediscounting of existing loans of small rice farmers listed under the DA’s RSBSA.
LANDBANK welcomes RCEF extension until 2031
LANDBANK welcomed the recent passage of Republic Act No. 11954 as amendment to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), and expressed full support for the extension of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) for another seven years, aimed to accelerate modernization in the rice sector and strengthen the resilience and productivity of Filipino rice farmers. As one of the implementers of RCEF in partnership with Department of Agriculture (DA), LANDBANK delivers credit assistance at low-interest rates with simplified processes to ensure accessibility for individual rice farmers and cooperatives in major rice producing provinces. Under the Expanded Rice Credit Assistance of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ERCA-RCEF), LANDBANK has extended P2.89 billion in loans to support rice production and post-harvest activities from 2019 to 2024. LANDBANK’s loans have benefitted 17,767 individual rice farmers and 270 cooperatives with more than 47,100 member-beneficiaries, which were channeled for palay production, milling and trading, re-lending, and the acquisition of farm machineries. Notably, 98% of LANDBANK’s direct borrowers under the program are individual rice farmers. “LANDBANK fully supports the RCEF extension towards strengthening our collective efforts to empowering Filipino rice farmers and boosting agricultural competitiveness. This significant step will bolster food security and sustainability, and the Bank stands ready to continue its active role in supporting this initiative,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. LANDBANK has remained faithful to its social mandate of promoting inclusive and sustainable development as the biggest credit provider to the agriculture sector servicing all components of the agriculture value chain. As of October 2024, the Bank has extended outstanding loans amounting to P769.68 billion in support of agriculture, fisheries and rural development under Republic Act No. 11901, otherwise known as “The Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022.” LANDBANK’s investments in promoting countryside development of P769.68 billion represents 55.5% of the Bank’s total P1.387 trillion gross loan portfolio. The Bank has also assisted a total of 3.93 million small farmers and fishers nationwide through loans and various support interventions. 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.
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LANDBANK maintains top GOCC status, bags multiple governance awards
Director Virginia N. Orogo (5th from right) accepts the award on behalf of LANDBANK for being the top GOCC in corporate governance for 2023 from Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin (6th from right), GCG Chairperson Atty. Marius P. Corpus (7th from right), and GCG Commissioners Atty. Brian Keith F. Hosaka (8th from right) and Atty. Geraldine Marie Berberabe-Martinez (rightmost) during the 2024 GCG Awards Ceremony on 25 November 2024 at the PICC Complex in Pasay City. Joining them are LANDBANK Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron (4th from right), Senior Vice President Atty. Roderick P. Sacro (leftmost), and Vice Presidents Atty. Myra-Lyn S. Peñalosa (3rd from right), May D. Arizabal (2nd from right), and Atty. Nikkolas G. Tolentino (9th from right). (Photo credits to GCG) LANDBANK was named the top government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) for the second consecutive year, earning the highest rating for corporate governance in 2023 from the Governance Commission of GOCCs (GCG). The state-run Bank garnered an unprecedented rating of 104% on the GCG’s Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS), exceeding the rating ceiling of 100%. The CGS is an evaluation tool that assesses the corporate governance practices of GOCCs, using a methodology aligned with international standards. “Being recognized anew as the top GOCC for corporate governance reflects LANDBANK’s steadfast commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence in public service. This recognition drives us further to continuously foster a culture of good governance, ensuring that we remain a reliable and trusted partner in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth across the nation,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, alongside GCG Chairperson Atty. Marius P. Corpus and Commissioners Atty. Brian Keith F. Hosaka and Atty. Geraldine Marie Berberabe-Martinez, conferred the award to LANDBANK during the 2024 GCG Awards Ceremony at the PICC Complex in Pasay City. LANDBANK Director Virginia N. Orogo received the award on behalf of the Bank, along with Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron, Senior Vice President Atty. Roderick P. Sacro, and Vice Presidents Atty. Myra-Lyn S. Peñalosa, May D. Arizabal, and Atty. Nikkolas G. Tolentino. LANDBANK also ranked among the top-ranking GOCCs in the 2023 GCG Performance Evaluation System (PES), which measures the achievements of GOCCs based on performance criteria, targets, and weighted indicators outlined in the Performance Scorecard. In addition, LANDBANK received a Sustainability Award for its outstanding commitment to sustainability values and practices. The Bank was further lauded for consistently achieving high scores in the "Responsibilities of the Board" section of the Corporate Governance Scorecard and for adhering to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards in its Sustainability Reporting for calendar years 2021 to 2023. LANDBANK has long been committed to upholding the highest ethical standards while faithfully fulfilling its role in nation-building. In 2024, the Bank remitted a record-setting P32.119 billion in cash dividends to the National Government—the highest in the Bank’s history and among all GOCCs—to support the country’s priority infrastructure projects and socio-economic programs. From governance to sustainability, LANDBANK continues to set benchmarks for excellence in the public sector, solidifying its role as a key and reliable partner in empowering the country’s drive toward inclusive progress. 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.
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LANDBANK remains financially strong, regulatory compliant
LANDBANK reaffirms its financial strength and stability, following the Bank’s P50-billion contribution to the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), and remains fully committed to its mandate as a reliable partner to the national government’s inclusive development agenda. The state-run Bank has consistently met and exceeded the minimum requirements of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR)—a critical benchmark of financial health—as it stays financially robust with no urgent need for additional capital. Earlier this year, LANDBANK remitted P32.119 billion in cash dividends to the National Government—the highest among all Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and in the Bank’s history. This milestone reflects the Bank's sustained financial strength and ability to generate consistent revenues while fulfilling its developmental mandate. As of 30 November 2024, LANDBANK’s CAR remains at a healthy level of 16.42% which is well above the 10% regulatory threshold, further demonstrating the Bank’s resilience against financial and operational risks. Following the P50-billion seed capital allocation to the MIF in September 2023, LANDBANK’s CAR stood at 16.20%, remaining comfortably above regulatory requirements and reflecting the Bank’s commitment to financial stability. The Bank also clarified that regulatory relief was sought from the BSP as a proactive measure to maintain resilience. LANDBANK has consistently adhered to prudent financial management practices, effectively utilizing its resources to promote agriculture, fisheries and rural development, and empower key development sectors. 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.
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