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LANDBANK, LGUs tie up for economic recovery loan program vs pandemic
The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), together with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), and the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), are working together to ensure extensive dissemination and coordination for the availment of the newly launched RISE UP LGUs (Restoration and Invigoration package for a Self-sufficient Economy towards UPgrowth for LGUs) lending program for eligible Local Government Units (LGUs) in the country. LANDBANK allotted an initial P10 billion for this program, which offers credit assistance to provincial, city, and municipal governments to finance developments and innovative programs in their localities. The RISE UP LGUs Lending Program is being offered by LANDBANK to support LGUs in the implementation of economic recovery plans aimed at reviving the local economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in a virtual launch event during a special meeting of ULAP member-leagues and officers on July 29, 2020. LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo and ULAP National President and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo E. Cua led the virtual signing, together with LPP National President and Marinduque Governor Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., and LCP Secretary General and Calapan Mayor Arnan C. Panaligan. Also present during the event was League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) National President and Narvacan Mayor Luis C. Singson who expressed his support to the provisions provided in the MOU. Under the MOU, ULAP, LPP, LCP and LMP will disseminate information on the RISE UP LGUs Lending Program to its member-LGUs. LANDBANK, for its part, will provide reference and information materials, and quickly respond to queries, as well as attend invitations of LGUs to discuss RISE UP LGUs and other available lending programs. “Through the RISE UP LGUs Lending Program, our aim is to help you revitalize struggling businesses, restore investor-confidence in your respective localities, and promote local development. LANDBANK is here to help you grow into more sustainable and self-sufficient communities that can withstand the impact of future crises,” LANDBANK President and CEO Borromeo said in her message. ULAP National President Governor Cua said the RISE UP LGUs is “a lending program conceptualized to complement economic stimulus packages that may be developed by the National Government for LGUs.” “With LGUs feeling the adverse economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, this loan program is a way we can help LGUs improve their capacity to provide basic services for their constituents as they respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as fund support services for local enterprises to stimulate local economies. With the country expected to experience its first economic recession in two decades, interventions are needed to help prop local businesses and create alternative economic opportunities. RISE UP LGUs should help capacitate LGUs to do just that,” Governor Cua said. Under the RISE UP LGUs Lending Program, eligible LGUs can borrow a loan amount depending on their project requirements, provided that the total loan exposure (including the proposed loan under the program) is not more than its Net Borrowing Capacity per Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) computation/certification. Interested LGUs 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.
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LANDBANK rolls out new P10B loan program to help LGUs recover from the COVID-19 crises
As the country takes recovery measures, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) is offering a new lending program to finance development and innovative projects of Local Government Units (LGUs) to help rebuild their communities. LANDBANK has earmarked P10 billion for the RISE UP LGUs Lending Program available for provincial, city and municipal LGUs. RISE UP LGUs stands for Restoration and Invigoration package for a Self-sufficient Economy towards UPgrowth for LGUs. The program was virtually launched Wednesday (July 29) during the regular meeting of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the umbrella organization of all leagues of LGUs and locally elected government officials in the country. LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo and ULAP National President Government Dakila Carlo E. Cua led the virtual program launch, and participated in by ULAP member-Leagues and officers including, among others, League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) National President Governor Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) National President Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, and League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) National President Mayor Luis C. Singson. “The ongoing public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vital role of LGUs in managing the effects of unforeseen catastrophes. We hope that the LANDBANK RISE UP LGUs Program will help them better serve their constituents and communities, while developing a stronger local economy that can withstand future crises,” President Borromeo said. The LANDBANK RISE UP LGUs Program will be made available to eligible LGUs at a loan amount depending on their project requirements, provided that the total loan exposure (including the proposed loan under the program) should not be more than its Net Borrowing Capacity per Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) computation/certification. The loan shall bear an affordable interest rate of 4.5% per annum fixed for the first year, and subject to annual repricing thereafter based on Bank’s prevailing interest rate The loan may be used for the purchase of agricultural produce, acquisition of equipment, and construction of facilities for linking of products to the market such as the market infrastructure development and/or improvement, mobile palengke, collection and buying stations, and related facilities. The LGU may also use the loan to fund programs and projects that will provide its constituents with basic and support services, social welfare and healthcare, and other infrastructure activities that aim to bring back confidence of the people and spur the local economic activities/businesses after a crisis or pandemic. For permanent working capital, the LANDBANK RISE UP LGUs Lending Program offers a loan tenor of three years. Meanwhile, tenor for term loan is up to 10 years. A grace period of up to one year on principal payment for both credit facilities may also be granted. To ensure an extensive information dissemination and coordination for the loan availment of the Lending Program by eligible LGUs, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also virtually signed between LANDBANK, ULAP, LPP, LCP and LMP during the webinar, which was streamed live over the Facebook pages of ULAP (fb.com/ulap.net.ph) and LANDBANK (fb.com/landbankofficial). 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.
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LANDBANK, STI ink P250M agreement to fund ‘study now, pay later’ scheme
(Clockwise, from upper left) Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo leads the virtual signing of a P250-million loan agreement with STI Education Services Group, Inc. (STI-ESGI) Executive Committee Chairman Dr. Eusebio H. Tanco and STI-ESGI Chief Executive Officer Monico V. Jacob for the LANDBANK ACADEME Lending Program to finance STI’s ‘study now, pay later’ program for its students in the coming school year 2020-2021. Signing as witnesses are STI-ESGI Chief Finance Officer and Treasurer Yolanda M. Bautista, and LANDBANK Agricultural and Development Lending Sector Officer-In-Charge Senior Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos. The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and STI Education Services Group, Inc. (STI-ESGI) signed a P250-million Term Loan Rediscounting Line agreement under the ACADEME (ACcess to Academic Development to Empower the Masses towards Endless Opportunities) Lending Program to finance the institution’s ‘study now, pay later’ program for its students amid the financial difficulties facing families due to the COVID-19 pandemic. LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo, STI-ESGI Executive Committee Chairman Dr. Eusebio H. Tanco and STI-ESGI Chief Executive Officer Monico V. Jacob led the virtual signing, held on July 24, 2020. The event was witnessed by STI-ESGI Chief Finance Officer and Treasurer Yolanda M. Bautista, and LANDBANK Agricultural and Development Lending Sector Officer-In-Charge Senior Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos. The STI-ESGI, which is the largest subsidiary of STI Holdings, is the first academic institution that availed of the ACADEME Lending Program. The institution offers secondary and tertiary programs, as well as post-graduate and associate programs. “We would like to thank Chairman Tanco and the rest of STI-ESGI management team for putting faith in LANDBANK and our ACADEME Program to finance and ensure the enrollment of around 15,000 to 25,000 students in STI colleges and academic centers this upcoming school year,” LANDBANK President and CEO Borromeo said in her message. Other academic institutions which also availed of the LANDBANK ACADEME Lending Program include Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines, Inc. (MCNP) and the International School of Asia and Pacific, Inc. (ISAP) in the province of Cagayan. And at least 80 more private educational institutions have expressed interest in accessing the credit facility. “Almost 70% of our students are supported by overseas workers, who are being repatriated during this pandemic. This LANDBANK facility provides the much needed relief. STI has also agreed not to pass on the 3% interest of this facility. We will absorb this cost, and we thank LANDBANK for being the first bank to offer a study now, pay later plan. We are committed to the education of our youth, and we are happy to work with LANDBANK to make sure their future will continue to be bright and hopeful,” STI-ESGI CEO Jacob said in his response. Launched in May 2020, the LANDBANK ACADEME Lending Program aims to provide credit support to private high schools, private technical and vocational education training institutions, as well as Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) such as colleges and universities, in providing continuing education to their students, through their parents or benefactors, under a ‘study now, pay later’ program. LANDBANK allotted P3 billion for the Program, which offers refinancing or rediscounting of promissory notes issued by the parents or benefactors of students for school loans. Eligible schools can borrow up to 70% of the sub-promissory notes on a per semester basis, and subject further to a maximum amount based on the school’s net borrowing capacity, with a very low fixed interest rate of 3% per annum, payable based on the maturity of the sub-promissory notes, but not to exceed three (3) years. For more details about the Program’s features and application requirements, 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.
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Sowing the seeds of success through mechanized farming
Farmer-members of the Malinao Dam Federation of Irrigators’ Association (MADFIA), Inc. in Bohol now enjoy improved productivity and income with the help of a four-wheeled tractor and two rice combine harvesters which the federation acquired through the Agricultural Competitive Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Lending Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK). PILAR, Bohol – Two years ago, farmer-members of the Malinao Dam Federation of Irrigators’ Association (MADFIA), Inc. in the towns of Pilar and Dagohoy in the province of Bohol shared the hardships brought about by traditional palay production. From tilling the soil to harvesting the rice crops from the fields, they only depend on their trusted carabaos and obsolete farming methods as they worked under the sun for more than eight hours a day. Despite all their labor and hard work, MADFIA President Kim L. Doroy said that it was extremely challenging to earn a living from growing palay in a traditional way, especially during bad weather. “Sobrang hirap. Nakikita ko na bawat isa sa miyembro namin ay talagang ibinubuhos ang lahat ng kakayahan sa sakahan para mabuhay. Tapos minsan naaabutan ng ulan, naaabutan ng bagyo, kaya yung kita namin ay talagang bumabagsak,” he said, noting that this vicious cycle also triggered food shortage in the province. The difficulties and uncertainties facing their members prompted MADFIA to avail of a P4.9-million term loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) in 2018, under the Agricultural Competitive Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Lending Program, for the acquisition of farm machineries and post-harvest facilities. Through LANDBANK, MADFIA was able to acquire two brand-new units of rice combine harvesters that same year, and in 2019, they were able to purchase a brand-new four-wheeled tractor unit to help them quickly prepare rice paddies for the planting season. With the mechanization of rice farming methods, the productivity and income of the 4,963 rice farmers from 17 irrigators’ associations under MADFIA significantly increased. From spending three to four days and employing three farm workers to prepare one hectare of farmland, they can now complete the job for only two hours with the use of a tractor and just one operator. Harvesting a hectare of rice field was also reduced to two hours and one farm worker with the help of the harvester, instead of the conventional two to three days that requires 16 farm workers. In terms of profit, the farmers were able to earn 40% more every cropping season. And since the time they spend in their rice fields was shortened, some of them were able to get additional income from growing other food crops such as vegetables and corn. “Napagaan ‘yung buhay namin, medyo guminhawa. Nakapag-ipon kami ng panustos sa pag-aaral ng aming mga anak at puhunan sa paghahanda sa susunod na season ng pagtatanim. Ngayong may pandemic, may quarantine, ang laking naitulong dahil iilan lang ‘yung pwedeng makalabas. Kasi sa harvester at tractor kaunti lang ang tao na kinakailangan. Kapag wala kaming ganong equipment, siguradong taghirap na ‘yung mga farmers ngayon,” Doroy said. Aside from MADFIA, LANDBANK through the ACEF Lending Program, has also helped other federations of irrigators’ associations in Bohol to acquire farm machineries and post-harvest facilities. In total, the Bank was able to finance 39 units of four-wheeled tractors, 10 units of rice combine harvesters, and 18 units of rice transplanters to these associations. The ACEF Lending Program is a joint program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and LANDBANK, which aims to provide necessary credit to small farmers and fishers (SFFs), their cooperatives and associations, and micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to increase their productivity, and to enhance the competitiveness of players in the agriculture sector. As of June 30, 2020, LANDBANK has released a total of P2.5 billion in loans to 19,367 eligible borrowers nationwide under the ACEF Lending Program. Of the total borrowers, 19,189 are SFFs, 119 are MSEs, and 59 are farmers’ and fishers’ cooperatives/associations. For more details about the Program’s features, eligibility and application requirements, 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.
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LANDBANK’s agri loans reach P227 Billion as of end-June; helps close to 2 Million farmers and fishers
In line with intensifying support to the agriculture sector, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has provided P227.47 Billion-worth of agriculture loans as of June 2020. Of these loans to agriculture, P35.63 billion was outstanding loans to small farmers, fishers, cooperatives, and farmers associations. This includes direct lending to farmers and fishers which grew by P219 million or 18.37% from P1.19 billion in May to P1.41 billion in June. Meanwhile, loans to other players in the agri-business value chain stood at P191.84 billion, of which P141.67 billion was lent to small, medium, and large agribusiness enterprises and P50.17 billion financed agri-aqua related projects of local government units (LGUs) and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). Assisting 2 Million farmers and fishers As of June 2020, LANDBANK has assisted 1,976,689 cumulative small farmers and fishers nationwide representing a 98.8% accomplishment over the 2 million cumulative target for the year. The 300,825 or 18% increase from last May’s 1,675,864 tally was due largely to the new farmers assisted under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF) Program. Of the 1,976,689 farmers and fishers that LANDBANK has assisted, 1,290,240 were supported through the Bank’s various regular loan offerings and lending programs jointly implemented with the DA and the Department of Agrarian Reform. The remaining 218,530 and 467,919 small farmers were assisted specifically through the DA’s Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) Program and the FSRF Program, respectively. “Now more than ever, LANDBANK continues to exert greater focus on driving support for the agriculture sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the whole-of-government approach, our strong partnerships with the Department of Agriculture and Department of Agrarian Reform have allowed us to fulfill our mandate of reaching and assisting more small farmers and fishers nationwide than ever before,” LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said. After achieving and exceeding its target of assisting one million farmers and fishers in 2019, LANDBANK is aiming to assist an additional one million new farmers and fishers for a total of 2 million this 2020. LANDBANK is a government financial institution with the social mandate of promoting countryside development, servicing the financial needs of small farmers and fishers, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), countryside financial institutions (CFIs), LGUs, and government institutions. 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).
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LANDBANK to offer BTr’s Progreso Bonds Para Sa Bayan starting July 16
For a minimum investment of P5,000, interested investors may purchase the Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) Retail Treasury Bonds Tranche 24 (RTB-24 or Progreso Bonds) and help boost the state’s coffers for socioeconomic development initiatives. On July 16, 2020 (4:00PM), the Department of Finance (DOF) and BTr will launch through a virtual Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB) Investor’s Briefing the five-year RTB-24 or Progreso Bonds offering with Bond Exchange, to generate at least P30 billion. The event will be streamed live via the Facebook Page of the BTr (www.facebook.com/TreasuryPh) to be shared by LANDBANK (www.facebook.com/landbankofficial) and other participating Banks. The virtual event will be led by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez and National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon, together with Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo, and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) President and CEO Emmanuel G. Herbosa. The RTB-24 will be offered to the investing public until August 7, 2020, with state-run lenders LANDBANK and DBP as the Joint Lead Issue Managers. They will be joined by BDO Capital and Investment Corporation, BPI Capital Corporation, China Bank Capital, First Metro Investment Corporation, PNB Capital Corporation, RCBC Capital Corporation, SB Capital Corporation, and Union Bank of the Philippines as Joint Issue Managers. “LANDBANK’s participation in the RTB-24 or Progreso Bonds offering is a testament to the Bank’s unwavering support to the National Government to raise funds for its socio-economic development initiatives. Rest assured that the Bank will do its part to promote and encourage retail investors to invest in the Progreso Bonds,” LANDBANK President and CEO Borromeo said. The proceeds to be generated from RTB-24 will be utilized by the National Government to fund health initiatives, especially priority measures to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 crisis, and extend support to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Interested investors may purchase RTB-24 through the branches of LANDBANK those of participating institutions. They can also purchase the Bonds through the RTB Online Ordering Facility at the BTr’s website and through the BONDS.PH mobile application. On top of selling the new Bonds, the BTr will be allowing holders of previously issued bonds, namely, RTB 10-01, FXTN 05-73, RTB 10-02 and FXTN 07-57 to exchange and reinvest their bond holdings for the RTB-24. It will be the second time that the BTr will issue RTBs this year, after the issuance of the RTB-23 with exchange offer last February. The RTBs are generally considered low-risk investments which allow investors to earn a fixed interest quarterly during the term of the bond based on prevailing market rates. For more updates, please Follow, Like and Share the official LANDBANK Facebook and Instagram accounts (@landbankofficial) and Twitter (@LBP_Official) or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).
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LANDBANK releases P3.02B in loans to help farmers and fishers boost productivity
In pursuit of its mandate to support the country’s agriculture sector, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), continues to provide affordable financial assistance to farmers and fishers, as well as their cooperatives and associations, to help increase their productivity and profitability. Under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Lending Program, the Bank has released a total of P2.5 billion in loans to 19,367 eligible borrowers as of June 30, 2020. Of the total borrowers, 19,189 are Small Farmers and Fishers (SFFs), 119 are micro and small enterprises (MSEs), and 59 are farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives/associations. Direct lending under the ACEF Lending Program has been made available to eligible borrowers at an affordable interest rate of 2% per annum. Individual farmers and fishers may use the loan under the Program for the purchase of farm inputs and equipment or for farm improvement. For MSEs, cooperatives and associations, the loan may be used for the acquisition of machineries, equipment and facilities for agri-based production and post-production, as well as processing. Moreover, LANDBANK has released a total of P527.3 million in loans to 3,115 rice farmers and 22 cooperatives as of end-June 2020 under the Expanded Rice Credit Assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ERCA-RCEF) Program. The ERCA-RCEF Program was implemented to provide support to farmers following the implementation of the Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law. The Bank is one of the implementing agencies for the P1-billion RCEF allocation for credit, and mandated to make available P500 million in loans annually to rice farmers in 59 out of 80 rice-producing provinces covered by the Program from year 2019 to 2024. Direct lending under the ERCA-RCEF Program has been made available to eligible borrowers at an affordable interest rate of 2% per annum. For on-lending, interest rate is at 0% per annum with prescribed pass-on rate to end-borrowers of up to 6% per annum. Individual farmers may use the loan under the Program for the purchase of farm inputs for rice and rice seed production, and acquisition of farm machineries and equipment for production and post-production. For cooperatives, the loan may be used for the purchase of farm inputs for rice and rice seed production as a collective operation, working capital for rice and rice seed trading operation and other rice farming-related activities, acquisition of machineries and equipment, relending to small rice farmers listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), and rediscounting of existing loans of small rice farmers listed in the RSBSA. “LANDBANK is continuously working with the Department of Agriculture to intensify our support to the agriculture sector. Through the ACEF and ERCA-RCEF Loan Programs, we aim to assist more farmers and fishers, as well as their cooperatives and associations, so they can boost their productivity and profitability, and contribute significantly in ensuring food security in the country especially with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said.
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LANDBANK offers direct ‘study-now-pay-later’ loan program for students
Parents and guardians/benefactors of students enrolled for the upcoming school year can now directly avail of loans up to P300,000 from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK). LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said the bank is launching a new direct loan program to cover students’ tuition to assist parents and guardians/benefactors who may be reeling from effects of the COVID-19 health crisis. LANDBANK has allotted P1.5 billion in credit support under the I-STUDY (Interim Students’ Loan for Tuitions towards Upliftment of Education for the Development of the Youth) Lending Program to cover the tuition and other enrollment-related fees of eligible students. The LANDBANK I-STUDY Program is open to parents and guardians/benefactors of incoming students who are qualified under the admission and retention requirements of an academic institution recognized or accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Parents and guardians can borrow the amount of tuition equivalent to one (1) school year or two (2) semesters, or up to P150,000 per student but not more than P300,000 per eligible borrower. “LANDBANK supports President Duterte’s call to finance students’ access to quality education amid the economic challenges brought about by the pandemic. Through the I-STUDY Lending Program, we hope to help students finish their studies despite the difficulties they are facing,” Borromeo said. The I-STUDY Lending Program offers an affordable fixed interest rate of 5% per annum for short term loans for pre-school, primary, and secondary students payable within one (1) year, as well as for term loans for tertiary students payable up to a maximum of three (3) years, inclusive of one (1) year grace period on the principal. Eligible parents and guardians/benefactors should have an established repayment capacity, credit history and good credit standing. Eligible students cannot be a current beneficiary of the Universal Access for Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017 (also known as Republic Act 10931), or any scholarship program or privilege granted to honor students and should be of good moral character as certified by school. The LANDBANK I-STUDY Program will be available only for School Years 2021 to 2022. For details about the Program’s features, eligibility and application requirements, 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 and Instagram accounts (@landbankofficial) and Twitter (@LBP_Official) or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).
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LANDBANK delivers P2.65 billion cash aid to 530,000 rice farmers amid COVID-19
The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), has distributed a total of Php2.649 billion to 529,816 rice farmer-beneficiaries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic across 26 provinces, under the DA’s Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF) Program. As of July 1, 2020, a total of 61,928 rice farmers claimed their cash benefits through their existing LANDBANK ATM Cash Cards while 467,888 farmers received their financial assistance in designated pay-out sites nationwide. Through the FSRF Program, small rice farmers tilling farms with an area of one (1) hectare or less received Php5,000 each to supplement their production budget and family income. “In partnership with the Department of Agriculture led by Secretary William Dar, LANDBANK continues to deliver much-needed financial aid to small palay farmers nationwide during these difficult times. This is in fulfillment of our expanded mandate to support our priority sector—the agriculture sector—recover from the challenges of COVID-19 as soon as possible,” LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said. Aside from the delivery of cash aid, LANDBANK has also provided 29,728 agrarian reform beneficiaries a one-year moratorium on amortizations with due dates falling during the previous Enhance Community Quarantine (ECQ) period. This covered 41,837 hectares of agricultural land amounting to a total of Php1.56 billion in dues. 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).
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LANDBANK, 6 other digital payment firms join hands for quick release of 2nd SAP aid
Beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will expect faster release for the second tranche of their cash subsidies. The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) will be working with six (6) financial service providers (FSP) to administer the electronic payment and distribution of emergency subsidies to entitled SAP beneficiaries. The move is a result of a memorandum of agreement signed on June 30, 2020 at the DSWD Central Office in Batasan, Quezon City by DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo and representatives of the six FSPs – G-Xchange, Inc. Vice President for Enterprise Business Group Jose Luis G. Reyes; PayMaya Philippines Inc. CEO Orlando B. Vea; Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation President and CEO Eugene S. Acevedo; Robinsons Bank Corporation President and CEO Elfren Antonio S. Sarte; Starpay Corporation President Lamberto Scarella; and Union Bank of the Philippines President and CEO Edwin R. Bautista. The signing was witnessed by officials from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Under the signed “Multilateral Agreement for the Electronic Payment of SAP Subsidies,” LANDBANK will facilitate and execute the crediting of the emergency subsidy of the beneficiaries into their respective nominated account in other financial institutions via electronic fund transfer using PESONet and Instapay based on instruction and payroll documents provided by DSWD within 24 hours. LANDBANK will also credit the program fund in the FSP’s funding accounts maintained with the LANDBANK Batasan Branch or in other financial institution based on the instruction and payroll documents provided by DWSD within 24 hours from receipt of payroll documents. “Our partnership marks a significant step towards facilitating the immediate, efficient, and secure delivery of emergency subsidy to disadvantaged individuals, families, and communities who are struggling with the challenges posed by COVID-19. We are confident that with six financial service providers on board for SAP 2, our efforts will be multiplied, resulting to a faster and more efficient delivery of much-needed subsidy to the beneficiaries,” LANDBANK President and CEO Borromeo said in her message. The qualified beneficiaries for SAP 2 are the family-beneficiaries of the first tranche that are still under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) per Executive Order No. 112, series of 2020, and a Memorandum from the Office of the Executive Secretary dated May 2, 2020. These include the National Capital Region (NCR); Region III, except Aurora; Region IV-A; Benguet; Pangasinan; Iloilo; Cebu Province; Bacolod; Davao City; Albay Province; and Zamboanga City. On June 11, 2020, LANDBANK already completed the payout for the second wave of cash assistance worth P6.74 billion to the LANDBANK Cash Cards of 1.3 million Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries under SAP 2.
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LBP's OFBank becomes purely digital branchless bank
The national government, spearheaded by the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), has launched the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank) as a digital-only, first branchless Philippine government bank that allows clients to complete banking transactions anytime and anywhere across the globe. The OFBank virtual launch today (June 29) was streamed live on the Facebook Pages of OFBank (@OFBank), and its parent bank, LANDBANK (@landbankofficial), and the LANDBANK YouTube Channel (/landbankofficial). The event was hosted online by TV personality Gretchen Ho. The virtual launch was made possible with the support of officials led by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, OFBank Chair and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo, OFBank President and CEO Leila C. Martin, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines and Guam Dan Wolbert, and the respective Board of Directors of OFBank and LANDBANK. “Despite the global health crisis besetting the country today, our government remains true to its commitment of upholding the welfare of all Filipinos abroad and their families. The launch of OFBank today as a digital-only, first branchless Philippine bank is a testament to this,” OFBank Chair Borromeo said. As a digital-only facility, the OFBank, a fully-owned subsidiary of LANDBANK, now utilizes Digital Onboarding System with Artificial Intelligence (DOBSAI) to facilitate real-time account opening via the OFBank’s Mobile Banking Application. The new digital account opening platform allows overseas Filipinos (OFs), overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their beneficiaries to securely and conveniently submit all requirements online. Opening an account using DOBSAI via the OFBank Mobile Banking App is safe and secure. The applicant will only need to take a “selfie” and the system will compare this photo with the photo in the valid identification (ID) card uploaded by the client. The app likewise has advanced encryption and security technology that protects sensitive information. There are three types of accounts available in OFBANK’s DOBSAI: the OFBank Visa Debit Card for OFs and OFWs, the OFBank Visa Debit Card for beneficiaries, and the OFBank Debit Card for beneficiaries below 18 years old. These are interest-bearing peso savings accounts with no minimum initial deposit and monthly average daily balance (ADB), as well as dormancy fee. To earn interest, the accounts need to have a daily balance of P500.00. The OFBank Visa Debit Card allows cardholders, specifically the beneficiaries of OFs and OFWs, to receive secure and convenient real-time fund transfers using Visa Direct, Visa’s real time payment solution through the 16-digit card number. “We’re extremely pleased to join our valued partner, OFBank in this launch to support OFWs, OFs and their beneficiaries. The reintroduction of OFBank as a digital-only, branchless Philippine bank is extremely timely when Filipinos are becoming more digital, and our research also shows that close to 80% of Filipinos are interested to use services from a digi-bank. We are glad to show our support to this community by enabling beneficiaries of OFWs and OFs to receive money in real-time by seamlessly and securely using the 16-digit OFBank Visa debit card, which they can also use to make face-to-face and online payments wherever Visa is accepted.” said Dan Wolbert, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines and Guam. OFBank account holders can use OFBank’s mobile facility to transfer funds to their beneficiaries’ OFBank and LANDBANK accounts, free of charge. Interbank fund transfers, on the other hand, are subject to a service fee of P25.00 per transaction via InstaPay and P15.00 per transaction via PesoNet. OFBank Online Channels The OFBank is also increasing its presence online to reach more Filipinos worldwide. In the virtual event today, the Bank likewise introduced its modified website – www.ofbank.com.ph. The newly redesigned site contains key information about OFBank, list of products and services, and answers on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from the banking public, among others. As part of its efforts to be of greater service to its customers, the Bank also launched its official Facebook page – @OFBank. The OFBank believes that this is an effective tool to inform the public about the Bank’s latest developments and offerings since Facebook is one of the most used social media platforms by Filipinos across the world. The page will also be an additional channel through which client queries will be addressed. “As the OFBank becomes fully digital, we aim to better serve the banking and financing requirements of our kababayans abroad, as well as their families here in our country. Rest assured that OFBank will continuously work on providing safe, reliable and secure digital banking,” OFBank President and CEO Martin said.
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Premyo Bonds quarterly Rewards Draw grand winners take home P1M and a house and lot unit
The grand winners of the Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) first and second quarter Rewards Draw for the “Premyo Bonds Para sa Bayan” (Premyo Bonds) recently received their cash and non-cash rewards in a ceremonial turnover held at the Ayuntamiento Building, Intramuros in Manila on June 25, 2020, a week after the actual draw. The event was led by National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon, Deputy Treasurers Atty. Erwin D. Sta. Ana, Atty. Gisela F. Lood and Sharon P. Almanza, and Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) Trust Banking Group Vice President Lolita M. Almazar. First Quarter Rewards Draw grand winner China Banking Corp. (China Bank) Employee Retirement Plan and Second Quarter Rewards Draw grand winner Josefina L. Flores each received a Manager’s Check for P1 million and a brand new house and lot unit from Lessandra by Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. (Vista Land) and Property Company of Friends, Inc. (Pro-Friends), respectively. The China Bank Employee Retirement Plan, an entity established primarily for the benefit of the bank’s employees, was represented by China Bank First Vice President and Trustee Maria Rosanna Catherina Testa, together with China Bank First Vice President Mary Ann Lim, and China Bank First Vice President and Treasurer Christopher Ma. Carmelo Y. Salazar. China Bank First Vice President Lim said in a message that innovative instruments, such as the Premyo Bonds, provide wider opportunities for investors. Meanwhile, Ms. Flores, for her part, expressed how grateful she was to receive the rewards, and shared that it was only on the last day of the Premyo Bonds public offering when she was able to invest. Luckily enough, her Electronic Rewards Number (eRN) was drawn as the grand winner during the second quarter Rewards Draw. The eRNs of grand winners, together with other winners of the First and Second Quarter Rewards Draw for the Premyo Bonds were electronically selected last June 18. A total of 116 lucky investors were drawn in each quarterly Rewards Draw: 100 winners of 3rd cash reward tier of P20,000 each, 15 winners of 2nd cash reward tier of P100,000 each, and one grand prize winner of P1 million and a house and lot unit. The winners of the 2nd and 3rd cash rewards tiers received their cash rewards on June 23, 2020 via direct crediting to their designated settlement account. The Premyo Bonds were offered to the public by the National Government through the BTr, with LANDBANK and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) as Joint Lead Issue Managers. Joining the two state-run lenders as Joint Issue Managers were private banks BDO Capital and Investment Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., and First Metro Investment Corp. The Issue Managers also served as Selling Agents. The third quarter Rewards Draw for the Premyo Bonds will be held on September 18, 2020.
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