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LANDBANK expands lending program for former rebels, extremists

  The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has renamed its Lending Program for former rebels to the Balik-Loob Lending Program (BLLP) and widened its eligible borrowers to cover as well former violent extremists, including cooperatives and associations with former violent extremists as regular members. The coverage expansion forms part of the state-run Bank’s support to the National Government’s Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which aims to improve the livelihood of former rebels and violent extremists and their families by financing small businesses and agri-enterprises. “As part of the National Government’s ‘Whole-of-Nation’ approach, LANDBANK supports peace-building efforts in conflict-affected areas. Centered on our thrust of financial inclusion, we are offering financial assistance for the social re-integration of those who have voluntarily abandoned armed struggle to improve their livelihood,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. Under the updated terms of the BLLP, interested former rebels and violent extremists may apply for a loan provided that they will designate an immediate family member as a co-maker. Eligibility criteria for borrowers include an age requirement of at least 21 years old, no pending legal case, and a certification from the Joint AFP-PNP Intelligence Committee (JAPIC), as the government body assigned to verify the identities of former rebels and violent extremists upon their return to the fold of the law. Launched in 2018, LANDBANK’s BLLP has financed livelihood projects, such as sari-sari stores, RTW retailing, fruits and vegetables retailing, and curtain making, as well as agri-enterprises, which include crop production, piggery, and poultry, among others. Eligible borrowers also attended capacity building and skills trainings endorsed under the E-CLIP. The E-CLIP is the flagship program of the National Government for social healing and national unity to achieve just and lasting peace in conflict-affected areas. Unlike previous rebel reintegration programs, the E-CLIP provides a wider array of benefits based on the specific needs of former rebels and extremists and their families, such as financial assistance, housing, education, skills training, healthcare, and legal assistance, among others. For more information about LANDBANK’s loan programs, clients may follow the Bank’s official social media channels at @landbankofficial on Facebook and Instagram, @LBP_Official on Twitter, and @LANDBANK on Viber.

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LANDBANK onboards 3.8 million unbanked PhilSys registrants; steps up support for government’s financial inclusion drive

LANDBANK Sagay Branch facilitates the account opening of unbanked Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registrants at a registration center in Sagay City, Negros Occidental on June 2, 2021.   The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has ramped-up efforts to bring more unbanked Filipinos into the formal banking system, in support for the National Government’s financial inclusion agenda. As of May 31, 2021, LANDBANK has onboarded a total of 3,794,882 unbanked National ID registrants for transaction accounts, of whom 1,071,177 have already received their LANDBANK Agent Banking Cards (ABCs). The cards, which were provided free-of-charge and with no initial deposit requirement, form part of the Bank’s ongoing partnership with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to co-locate in the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) rollouts nationwide and provide unbanked registrants with their own transaction accounts. “As we commemorate Independence Day centered on unity, LANDBANK continues to take part in the National Government’s whole-of-nation approach towards reaching and serving more unbanked and underserved Filipinos, helping them to be financially independent. We are one with government partners in fast-tracking initiatives to bridge the financial inclusion gap in the country,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. The LANDBANK ABCs are given to unbanked PhilSys registrants through LANDBANK account opening booths at designated co-location areas. As of end-May 2021, LANDBANK has co-located in more than 850 PhilSys registration centers in 32 pilot provinces nationwide. Cardholders can use the LANDBANK ABCs to cash-in, cash-out, and transfer funds at any LANDBANK Branch or Agent Banking Partner. They can also withdraw cash at Mastercard-accepting ATMs, perform cashless transactions, shop online, and receive government subsidies digitally. In the future, the LANDBANK ABCs may be used as contactless cards to pay fares in public transport modes under the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) project of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). With its various efforts to boost financial inclusion in the country, LANDBANK is doing its share in reducing inequality, in helping to free the unbanked from poverty, and in promoting inclusive growth. Financial inclusion provides the unbanked opportunities to save, invest, and avail of affordable credit, leading towards their financial independence. By banking the unbanked, LANDBANK enables government cash grants and pensions to be credited directly into their accounts through cashless fund transfers. Delivering social protection programs Together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), LANDBANK has also distributed a total of 5.6 million LANDBANK Cash Cards to beneficiaries of social protection program nationwide as of May 31, 2021. Of this total, 4.4 million LANDBANK Cash Cards were delivered to DSWD’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program beneficiaries. The remaining 1.2 million cash cards were distributed to Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Program beneficiaries, composed of 596,761 and 643,562 beneficiaries under the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens and poor households in the DSWD’s Listahanan database, respectively. Through the LANDBANK Cash Cards, beneficiaries receive their government subsidy in a timely, safe, and convenient manner. They can withdraw from LANDBANK’s ATMs, partner cash-out agents, as well as from the ATMs of BancNet-member banks nationwide. They can also use their cards for cashless transactions through point-of-sale (POS) machines. Reaching unbanked and underserved municipalities To reach more unbanked and underserved areas, LANDBANK is also expanding its Agent Banking Program by partnering with more cooperatives, rural banks, local government units, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), among others, to help provide basic banking services. From the Program’s full implementation in March 2020 up to May 31, 2021, LANDBANK has certified 111 Full-Suite Agent Banking Partners (ABPs) operating in 48 unbanked municipalities and 159 underserved municipalities or those without a LANDBANK branch. These ABPs facilitate POS cash-out and cash-in services, fund transfers, balance inquiries, bills payment, and account opening with electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) and issuance of LANDBANK ABCs. LANDBANK has also partnered with a total of 645 POS cash-out only ABPs as of end-May 2021, utilizing 959 terminals deployed in 130 unbanked municipalities and 829 underserved municipalities or those without a LANDBANK branch. These POS devices allow cash-out transactions not only for LANDBANK-issued cards but also for other participating BancNet ATM cards. From January to May 2021, a total of 1,665,112 cash-out transactions amounting to P8.19 billion were facilitated by LANDBANK’s ABPs. These represent increases of 4.5% and 11% year-on-year for volume of transactions and value, respectively. Banking on technology The state-run Bank also launched on May 12, 2021, the Digital On-Boarding System Mobile or DOBS Mobile which facilitates online savings account opening anytime, anywhere, in as fast as 10 to 15 minutes—free-of-charge and with no initial deposit requirement—without the need to visit a LANDBANK branch. Powered by Artificial Intelligence, the LANDBANK DOBS Mobile allows interested clients to fill out application forms online, take a “selfie” and upload a valid identification card through the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App (MBA) on their mobile device. This eliminates the need to visit and line up in branches to open an account and support the government’s health protocols during this pandemic. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that a basic indicator of financial inclusion for sustainable and equitable national development is ownership of an account held in banks, e-money wallets, and microfinance institutions (MFIs) used to save, send or receive remittance, as well as for income, benefits, and bills payment. In its 2019 financial inclusion survey, the BSP said only 20.9 million Filipinos or 23% of the population own an account. For more updates, please Follow, Like and Share the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), and join our Viber community (@LANDBANK), or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).

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Palawan palay farmer turns business owner thru LANDBANK

  Farmer Jessie Cabuhat rents out his modern combine harvester which was acquired through a loan under LANDBANK’s Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Lending Program. NARRA, Palawan – For the past thirty years, palay farmer Jessie Cabuhat has been tilling his own farm in Barangay Taritien, dreaming that one day, he will be able to set-up a small business of renting out farm machinery as an additional source of income for his family. That dream became a reality in early 2020 through the assistance of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) lending program. Facilitated by the LANDBANK Palawan Lending Center, Cabuhat was able to loan P1.4 million under the ACEF to purchase a DC70 PH Plus combine harvester in time for the harvest of the wet season. Cabuhat has since been renting out the combine harvester to other farmers in the area and has been earning from it for nearly a year now. He is also using the machinery for farming his family-owned six (6) hectares of rice farmland, and another eight (8) hectares which he is renting from his parents. Now, the farmer turned entrepreneur has also generated employment by hiring four (4) additional employees to beef up his regular roster of six (6) farm helpers. Cabuhat is grateful to LANDBANK for offering a loan opportunity at a very low interest rate of 2% per annum. For him, the equipment rental business has significantly complemented his regular income, supporting his family’s financial needs. "Salamat sa tulong ng LANDBANK at nagkaroon ng katuparan ang isa sa aking mga pangarap. Ang rice harvester na inaasam-asam ko lang dati ay nakamit na rin at napakalaking tulong sa aking pamilya, pati na rin sa mga kapwa kong magsasaka," said Cabuhat. The ACEF is a direct lending program administered by LANDBANK in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), to provide timely and affordable credit to farmers and fishers, their cooperatives and associations, as well as micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to increase their productivity and income. Individual farmers and fishers may use the loan to purchase farm inputs and equipment, or for farm improvements. 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 activities. As of April 30, 2021, LANDBANK has released under the ACEF lending program a total of P4.99 billion that benefitted 39,502 farmers and fishers. Interested borrowers may contact the nearest open LANDBANK Lending Center or Branch nationwide or call LANDBANK’s customer service 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, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), join our Viber community (@LANDBANK), or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).

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LANDBANK Q1 assets up 16.14% as deposits rise

  State-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) reported a 16.14% growth in total assets to P2.405 trillion as of March 31, 2021, from the P2.071 trillion in the same period last year. The assets increase was driven by the 16.21% growth in deposits to P2.123 trillion from P1.827 trillion in 2020. Despite the continuing challenges set by the pandemic, LANDBANK is on track to meet its year-end net income target of P19.68 billion, as net income grew a modest 1.67% to P5.48 billion for the first three months of the year. LANDBANK’s capital also rose by 32.44% to P194.59 billion from P146.93 billion year-on-year. This was backed by the P27.5 billion infusion of the National Government in February under Republic Act (RA) No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2), designed to bolster the Bank’s ongoing financial recovery interventions to sectors severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The robust growth of our deposit base coupled with the equity booked from Bayanihan 2 allows us to extend greater financial assistance to our priority sectors, especially to small farmers and fishers, MSMEs, and other key development players. LANDBANK remains in prime position to continue providing for the recovery requirements of clients and the nation at large,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. The Bank’s financial ratios have also remained resilient with a return on equity of 10.09%—higher than the industry average of 6.61%—while return on assets stood at 0.77% and net interest margin at 3.11%. COVID-related loan programs As part of its ongoing efforts to support sectors adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, LANDBANK has so far approved loans amounting to P93.14 billion under various lending programs as of April 30, 2021. Among these programs include the I-RESCUE (Interim REhabilitation Support to Cushion Unfavorably affected Enterprises by COVID-19) Lending Program with total approved loans of P20.07 billion for 434 borrowers comprised of 292 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), 81 cooperatives, 56 large corporations, and 5 Microfinance institutions (MFIs). From the initial program fund of P10 billion, it was previously doubled to P20 billion and most recently increased further to P50 billion to accommodate increasing applications. Under the RISE UP LGUs (Restoration and Invigoration package for a Self-Sufficient Economy towards UPgrowth for local government units) Program, LANDBANK has approved loans totaling P72.18 billion for 245 LGUs nationwide to help revive their local communities and recover from the adverse economic impact of the pandemic. Finally, LANDBANK has approved loans amounting to P889 million to 20 academic institutions under its ACADEME (ACcess to Academic Development to Empower the Masses towards Endless Opportunities) Lending Program, which aims to boost the capacity of private academic institutions to implement a “study now, pay later” scheme for students. For more updates, please Follow, Like and Share the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), and join our Viber community (@LANDBANK), or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).

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LANDBANK unveils 4 new offsite ATMs in Bicol

LANDBANK recently installed four offsite ATMs in the Bicol Region, namely in (counterclockwise from top left) Camalig, Albay; Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte; Pasacao, Camarines Sur; and Mandaon, Masbate. In its continued efforts to reach out and serve more clients in Bicol, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) installed four offsite ATMs in various provinces of the Region, namely in Camalig, Albay; Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte; Pasacao, Camarines Sur; and Mandaon, Masbate. Residents and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries of these municipalities and nearby areas will no longer travel to the nearest LANDBANK branch for simple banking transactions. For more updates, please Follow, Like and Share the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), join our Viber community (@LANDBANK), or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).

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Statement on the bomb threat received by the LANDBANK San Jose Del Monte Branch

At around 10:00 a.m. today, June 3, 2021, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) San Jose del Monte Branch in Bulacan received a bomb threat via email from an unknown sender. The concern was immediately reported to the local Philippine National Police (PNP). Branch personnel and clients were safely evacuated from the Branch. The local authorities secured the premises, and a bomb squad investigated the building and cleared the area from any explosive or threat. The LANDBANK San Jose del Monte Branch is closed for the day to allow for further investigation, but will resume operations tomorrow, June 4, 2021. The Branch is also coordinating with the local police for additional security in the area for the time being. While LANDBANK continues to be on high alert, we assure the public that this matter is being taken very seriously because the safety of our clients and personnel remains our utmost priority.

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LANDBANK Buendia Branch moves to NAPOLCOM-NCR Building

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) Buendia Branch announces its recent transfer to the Ground Floor of the NAPOLCOM-NCR Building at No. 371 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. Located near the intersection of Makati Avenue and Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, the LANDBANK Buendia Branch caters to the banking needs of major government and private clients within the bustling Central Business District of Makati. For more updates, please Follow, Like and Share the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), join our Viber community (@LANDBANK), or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).

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Parañaque City delivers 4Ps cash grants online via LANDBANK cash cards

  Beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Parañaque City were able to avoid long queues, hours of waiting time, and health risks from COVID-19, by receiving their cash grants thru their cash cards. The City Government of Parañaque, in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), successfully disbursed cash grants worth P28 million to 7,118 4Ps beneficiaries in Parañaque City by utilizing their existing LANDBANK cash cards on May 6 and 18, 2021. The partnership for the online distribution of the cash aid was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez, DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista, and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo on April 23, 2021. “Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, LANDBANK has worked closely with various government partners for the immediate and efficient distribution of cash subsidies. We will continuously leverage on our digital and online platforms to facilitate a safe and secure mode of delivering social amelioration programs,” LANDBANK President and CEO Borromeo said. Under the agreement, LANDBANK facilitated the crediting of financial assistance to the cash card accounts of qualified 4Ps beneficiaries based on the list provided by the Pantawid Pamilya Information System (PPIS) of the DSWD. The cash assistance in the amount of P1,000 per affected individual, with a maximum amount of P4,000 per family, is part of the National Government’s support to low-income families residing in the National Capital Region (NCR) and in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, collectively known as the "NCR Plus," that were previously placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on March 29 to April 18, 2021. LANDBANK continues to record a usage surge for its digital and e-banking channels since health and mobility restrictions were implemented last year. From January to April 2021, LANDBANK’s five major electronic channels—Mobile Banking App, Electronic Modified Disbursement System (eMDS), Link.BizPortal, iAccess, and weAccess—facilitated a total of 38.89 million transactions amounting to P642.68 billion. These represent increases of 12% and 55% year-on-year for volume of transactions and value, respectively. Meanwhile, LANDBANK continues to waive fees for online fund transfers of retail clients until June 30, 2021. This covers online fund transfers facilitated through LANDBANK’s online banking channels via InstaPay and PESONet. For more information about LANDBANK’s e-Banking products and services, clients may visit the Bank’s official website (www.landbank.com), or follow the Bank’s official social media channels at @landbankofficial on Facebook and Instagram, @LBP_Official on Twitter, and @LANDBANK on Viber.

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DA, LANDBANK aid Bataan farmers boost palay production

Bataan palay farmers Godofredo Magpoc (leftmost), Danilo Zulueta (upper right), and Roberto Morales (lower right) reap the benefits of financial assistance from the Expanded Rice Credit Assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ERCA-RCEF) Program of Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the production requirements of their rice fields. BATAAN – For the past 37 years, Godofredo Magpoc has provided for his family by growing different varieties of palay in his 2-hectare farm in Orion town. But with the recent decline in palay prices affecting his income, raising capital to sustain his livelihood has become a challenge. “Sa panahon ngayon, lubhang napakahirap para sa isang magsasaka ang mawalan ng puhunan. Kaya naman napipilitan humiram sa patubuan (informal lenders),” Magpoc said. In December 2019, Magpoc learned about the Expanded Rice Credit Assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ERCA-RCEF) Program of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Department of Agriculture (DA). This credit facility aims to boost the productivity and income of small rice farmers, and cushion the initial impact of Republic Act No. 11203, also known as the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL). Under the ERCA-RCEF, individual farmers may borrow up to 90% of the total project cost—at a fixed interest rate of 2% per annum—for the purchase of farm inputs for rice and rice seed production, and acquisition of farm machineries and equipment for production and post-production. Magpoc successfully applied for a loan of P78,500.00 from LANDBANK, which he used to purchase farm inputs and hire additional farm workers. Since availing of the ERCA-RCEF Program, he has seen an increase in yield of about 30-40 cavans of rice every harvest season. He will be availing his fourth loan under the Program this May 2021. “In partnership with the Department of Agriculture, LANDBANK remains focused on delivering responsive financial services most especially to rice farmers and cooperatives. Through the ERCA-RCEF Program, we aim to increase their productivity and income through timely and accessible financial assistance,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. Like Magpoc, palay farmer Danilo Zulueta from the Municipality of Pilar, also enjoyed the benefits of the ERCA-RCEF Program. A farmer for the past 20 years, he was granted a loan of P61,500.00 last December 2020 to support his 1.5-hectare rice field, which he used for land preparation, and to buy fertilizers and pesticides. “Malaki ang naitulong ng pautang ng LANDBANK at DA. Dahil sa sapat na puhunan, nakapagpatanim ako ng naaayon sa bilang ng araw ng punla at nakapagsabog ng abono (fertilizer) sa tamang panahon. Dahil dito, naniniwala akong magkakaroon ako ng masaganang ani at siyempre, magkakaroon ng karagdagang kita,” said Zulueta. For Roberto Morales, another palay farmer from Balanga City, the ERCA-RCEF Program is the best alternative from informal lenders who charge higher interest rates. Under the Program, LANDBANK granted him a loan of P82,000.00 in December 2019 which he used as additional capital to purchase fertilizers and pesticides. “Malaki ang naitulong ng perang nahiram ko mula sa LANDBANK. Tumaas ang aking kita dahil 2% per annum lang ang interest rate ng ERCA-RCEF kumpara sa iba na may mataas na interes,” said Morales. Continuing support for palay farmers       Under the ERCA-RCEF Program, LANDBANK has cumulatively released P1.03 billion in loans to 6,214 eligible borrowers composed of palay farmers and cooperatives as of April 30, 2021. Most of the farmer-beneficiaries were from Region 2—particularly the rice-producing provinces of Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino—where LANDBANK assisted a total of 3,129 rice farmers and 19 cooperatives. DA-accredited cooperatives may also borrow under the ERCA-RCEF Program for the purchase of farm inputs for rice and rice seed production as a collective operation, working capital for rice and rice seed trading, and other rice farming-related activities such as the acquisition of machineries and equipment, as well as relending and rediscounting of existing loans of small rice farmers listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). For on-lending, the interest rate is at 0% per annum with prescribed pass-on rate to end-borrowers of up to 6% per annum. As mandated by Republic Act No. 11203, LANDBANK shall continue to administer the ERCA-RCEF Program for DA until 2024, and make available P500 million in loans annually to rice farmers registered to the RSBSA in 38 rice-producing provinces.  For more information about LANDBANK’s Lending Programs, 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 loans reach P20B to ‘rescue’ MSMEs, co-ops

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has approved loans totaling P20.07 billion as of April 30, 2021 to borrowers adversely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, composed mostly of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives. Through the I-RESCUE (Interim REhabilitation Support to Cushion Unfavorably affected Enterprises by COVID-19) Lending Program, LANDBANK provided support to a total of 434 borrowers comprised of 292 MSMEs, 81 cooperatives, 56 large corporations, and five (5) microfinance institutions (MFIs). Of the total P20.07 billion approved loans, P18.21 billion has already been released. In April—or exactly a year after the program was launched in April 2020—the state-run Bank doubled the program fund of the I-RESCUE Lending Program to P20 billion from P10 billion to accommodate the increasing number of loan applications.  The loan facility aims to provide credit and loan restructuring assistance to pandemic-besieged businesses under more flexible terms and conditions, and will be available until December 31, 2022. Under the LANDBANK I-RESCUE Lending Program, MSMEs, cooperatives, MFIs and large corporations may borrow up to 85% of their emergency or permanent working capital requirement. Terms are set at an affordable interest rate of 5% per annum for three (3) years, subject to annual re-pricing thereafter, and payable up to 10 years with a maximum of two (2) years grace period on the principal repayment. The Program also offers a sub-credit facility for MSMEs and cooperatives, as well as self-employed individuals duly registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), who are severely affected by the ongoing health crisis. Qualified borrowers may borrow a minimum amount of P100,000 or up to 85% of the actual permanent working capital requirement but not exceeding P3 million, at a lower fixed interest rate of 3% per annum no hard collateral and payable for up to three (3) years. Existing LANDBANK clients may also avail of loan restructuring under the Program via additional loan and extended repayment period to rehabilitate and restore their operational cash flow. 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, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), join our Viber community (@LANDBANK), or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).

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2.48-M unbanked PhilSys registrants sign up for LANDBANK accounts

State-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) reports that a total of 2,481,788 unbanked Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registrants have already signed up for LANDBANK transaction accounts as of April, 30 2021. This forms part of LANDBANK's partnership with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to co-locate during the PhilSys Step 2 registration and provide unbanked registrants with their own transaction accounts. Of the total 2,481,788 unbanked registrants, the Bank has already issued LANDBANK Agent Banking Cards (ABCs) to 850,875 of them—free-of-charge and without an initial deposit requirement—while the rest will receive their cards by July. Upon the invitation of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua to co-locate with the PSA, LANDBANK aims to bank at least one household member of the estimated 18 million low-income households applying for the National ID and provide them access to basic banking services and emergency government subsidies. Previously, the PSA reported that 82% of the 10.52 million initial registrants do not have formal bank accounts. “LANDBANK is one with the National Government’s financial inclusion agenda. In partnership with the PSA, we are focused on opening accounts for up to eight million low-income, unbanked individuals from the 32 PhilSys priority provinces at the soonest time,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo.  Unbanked PhilSys registrants can avail of LANDBANK transaction accounts once they have completed the second step of the registration, which covers the validation of supporting documents and capturing of biometrics information. LANDBANK ABCs are given to unbanked PhilSys registrants free-of-charge and with no initial deposit requirement through LANDBANK account opening booths at designated co-location areas. Cardholders can use the LANDBANK ABCs to cash-in, cash-out, and transfer funds at any LANDBANK Branch or Agent Banking Partner. They can also withdraw cash at Mastercard-accepting ATMs, perform cashless transactions, shop online, as well as receive government subsidy digitally. Soon, the LANDBANK ABCs can also be used as contactless cards to pay fares in public transport modes under the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) project of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). LANDBANK is tapping personnel from its eight Branches Groups nationwide, as well as accredited cooperatives, associations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and private entities as Agent Banking Partners, to assist in the account application and Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirements at the registration sites. As of April 30, 2021, LANDBANK has co-located in 790 PhilSys Registration Centers in 10 regions, with additional centers in the pipeline as registrations continue to take place in 32 priority provinces nationwide. For more updates, please Follow, Like and Share the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), and join our Viber community (@LANDBANK), or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).

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LANDBANK supports Agri-Agra Law amendments to expand loan access for farmers, fishers

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) fully supports the ongoing Senate initiative to amend the provisions of Republic Act. No. 10000, otherwise known as the Agri-Agra Reform Credit of 2009 (Agri-Agra Law), which will provide farmers and fishers nationwide an expanded and easier access to responsive agricultural financing. During a public hearing on the proposed Agri-Agra Law amendments on May 12, 2021, the state-owned Bank also welcomed recommendations from legislators to revisit its loan application requirements, specifically for small farmers and fishers, to make it easier for them to access financing. In 2019, prior to the ongoing Agri-Agra law revisit, LANDBANK started simplifying its loan processes to make the Bank’s programs more accessible to small farmers and fishers. First, the loan application form was condensed from three (3) documents to just one (1) document, and was reformatted with mostly tick boxes for easier completion. Second, the Promissory Note was significantly trimmed from 14 pages to only 1 page. LANDBANK has also consistently complied with the Agri-Agra Law, which requires all banking institutions to allot 15% of their total lending portfolio for agriculture loans and 10% for agrarian reform credit. As of December 2020, LANDBANK’s agriculture loans reached 76.95% and 11.52% for agrarian reform. Overall, LANDBANK’s agriculture lending has been consistently growing from P222.05 billion in 2018, to P236.31 billion in 2019, and P237.62 billion in 2020. Likewise, as of March 31, 2021, LANDBANK’s total loan portfolio to the agriculture sector also grew by 4.8% to P229.70 billion from P219.24 billion last February. The increase is primarily attributed to a 9.5% rise in loans released to small, medium and large enterprises. Of the P229.70 billion total outstanding loans, P36.27 billion benefitted small farmers and fishers, cooperatives and farmers’ associations, rural financial institutions and other conduits. In partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), LANDBANK has also assisted cumulatively 2,696,839 farmers and fishers nationwide as of end-March 2021. This represents increases of 14,147 beneficiaries from February, and 25,990 for the first three months of the year. Just last month, LANDBANK also culminated its Online Stakeholder’s Consultation Forum towards addressing emerging challenges and issues faced by clients in accessing agricultural credit amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Forum facilitated knowledge sharing with key players in the agribusiness value chain to help the Bank further improve the accessibility of its lending products and services, especially under the new normal.   Online survey and focus group discussions were conducted to gain insights and suggestions from farmers and fishers groups, agri-input suppliers, aggregators and traders, processors, and wholesalers and exporters. For more updates, please follow the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), and Twitter (@LBP_Official); join our Viber community (@LANDBANK); or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).

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