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Banking on Malabing Valley MPC, Nueva Vizcaya cooperative’s citrus farming
Malabing Valley Multi-Purpose Cooperative General Manager Daniel Bartong (left) showcases Satsuma fruits (bottom, right) in the Coop’s orchard, where they also operate plant nurseries (top, right) which produces varieties of citrus fruits. KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya – In the mountainous terrains of Malabing Valley in this 3rd class municipality, around 400,000 trees of Satsuma, Ponkan, Red Chandler (Pomelo) and other varieties of citrus thrive in its rich soil and cool climate. “For sweet citrus fruits, the ideal place to grow them is where the climate is cold in the evening and a bit warmer during the day,” said Daniel Bartong, General Manager of the Cooperative. The Malabing Valley Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC) is an agri-based cooperative engaged in citrus and vegetable production, and is recognized as one of the major producers of citrus fruits in the province. It has more than 2,000 members – almost 500 of whom are citrus farmers – with some 500 hectares of total aggregate orchard. But the Cooperative’s beginnings were not as sweet as the fruits they are harvesting today. The Cooperative was founded by Alfonso Namujhe, Jr. in 1991 after developing a passion for home grown citrus from his parents who were then planting dalandan in the valley. Considered the father of citrus industry in the province today, Namujhe pursued his passion and formed Malabing Valley MPC with 48 members and Php16,300.00 as start-up capital. “Citrus production needs a considerable amount of financial investment. For example, it takes around 3 to 4 years for the trees to bear fruit. After that, you will need around half a million pesos to maintain one hectare of orchard,” said Bartong. With the amount of investment needed for citrus production, Malabing Valley MPC sought assistance from lending institutions to help them start out. However, this proved to be difficult since no bank wanted to take a chance on them, except Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK). “When we first started, LANDBANK was the only one who trusted our Cooperative and the citrus industry as an income-generating business. There were many lending institutions but they did not believe in us and the viability of the industry,” added Bartong. Through their initial credit exposure with LANDBANK in the 1990s, the Malabing Valley MPC was able to re-lend to their farmer-members to provide for their farming needs and produce quality citrus fruits, which in return improved the income of its members. Currently, the Cooperative markets its produce in Nueva Vizcaya, Northern and Central Luzon, Baguio City, and the National Capital Region (NCR). In 2018, LANDBANK approved a P226 Million credit line to the Cooperative for its rediscounting line, working capital, and term loan-relending for Citrus Production (new plantation and rejuvenation) which benefited 1,340 SFFs and other member-borrowers close to 2,000. The Cooperative has been an active borrower of LANDBANK for 29 years already and an active member of the Nueva Vizcaya Credit Surety Fund (NVCSF). To ensure the sustainability of the Cooperative’s business, Mr. Alfonso Namujhe, Jr., who introduced Satsuma production in the area, together with the entire membership of Malabing Valley MPC, continue to study about the latest technological advancements in citrus production, with the help of the Nueva Vizcaya State University and other government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and local farmer-scientists. “Maraming salamat sa LANDBANK dahil naniwala sila sa amin. Sana po ay tuloy-tuloy ang partnership namin sa LANDBANK at marami pa silang matulungan na mga magsasaka,” said Bartong.
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LANDBANK joins gov’t collab against hunger, poverty
(Seated) Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (5th from left) leads the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the national government’s Expanded Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program. Signatories to the MOU include (seated, L-R) LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo, NIA Admin. Ricardo Visaya, TESDA Sec. Isidro Lapeña, DAR Sec. John Castriciones, DSWD Sec. Rolando Bautista, DA Sec. William Dar, POPCOM Deputy Exec. Dir. Lolito Tacardon, (standing, L-R) DTI Sec. Ramon Lopez, NNC Exec. Dir. Azucena Dayanghirang, DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III, DILG Sec. Eduardo Año, DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones, DOST Usec. Brenda Nazareth-Manzano, NAPC Sec. Noel Felongco, WFP Philippines Deputy County Dir. Mats Persson, and UN FAO Asst. Rep.Tamara Palis-Duran. The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has officially joined the Expanded Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program—a collaborative government initiative designed to mitigate hunger, promote food security, and reduce poverty in the country by year 2030. Together with Cabinet members and senior government officials, LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize the Bank’s participation last December 9 in Malacañang, Manila. “We are honored to collaborate and contribute to this concerted endeavor against hunger and poverty. Our participation in the EPAHP Program complements our efforts to find new ways to reach and help underserved and underprivileged areas. This is once again an opportunity for us to support and participate in the National Government’s community-building programs,” President Borromeo said. Under the MOU, LANDBANK is tasked to provide credit support to community-based organizations (CBOs) for food production, processing, and marketing, which is consistent with its mandate to spur inclusive and sustainable development in rural communities and marginalized areas. LANDBANK will extend credit assistance to eligible CBOs such as cooperatives, agrarian reform beneficiary organizations, small water impounding systems associations, irrigators associations, day care services parents groups, smallholder farmer associations, fishers organizations, and people’s organizations, among others. The EPAHP initiative aims to contribute in addressing hunger and poverty in the country by converging relevant programs of participating government agencies to maximize results for the benefit of the poor and marginalized. Through the MOU signing, LANDBANK officially joins the EPAHP Program team alongside the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM).
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LANDBANK launches Sulong Saka Program for high-value crops
Consistent with its goal to provide additional means for farmers to access credit assistance, Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) recently launched the nationwide implementation of the Sulong Saka Program which is designed to promote wider crop diversification, particularly for high-value crops. LANDBANK has allotted a total of Php 10 billion for the Program to help small farmers increase their production of high-value crops such as vegetables (highland, lowland, spices, legumes); fruits (mango, banana, pineapple); industrial crops (abaca, bamboo, coffee, cacao, rubber, oil palm); and alternative food staple crops (saba-cardaba, soybean, root crops). “The Sulong Saka Program is part of our aggresive efforts to intensify support interventions to the agriculture sector. With this new lending program, we are helping our farmers avail of more financial support to increase their crop yield and in turn, increase income for their families,” LANBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said. “At the same time, we want our farmers to consider engaging in high-value crop production to improve the country’s crop diversity, which is currently dominated by traditional crops like rice, corn, and coconut,” she added. Aside from promoting crop production, the Sulong Saka Program also supports projects that involve the processing and marketing of high-value crops. Farmers can apply for financial support for the establishment of nursery, budwood or mother and plant or parent clone gardens; new plantation, replanting, rejuvenation, and rehabilitation of old trees; post-harvest projects; as well as trading and export activities. Individual small farm holders can apply for the loan with an affordable interest rate of 5% per annum. Other eligible borrowers include small and medium enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives, farmer associations and organizations, large agribusiness enterprises and corporations, local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and countryside financial institutions (CFIs). The Sulong Saka Program is a new addition to LANDBANK’s credit loan portfolio for farmers, which already includes the Accessible Funds for Delivery to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (AFFORD-ARBs) Program, the Sikat Saka Program in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Socialized Credit Program under the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SCP-SIDA) funded by the Sugar Regulatory Administration, the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF), and the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), among others. Interested borrowers may visit the nearest LANDBANK Lending Center or visit the official website at www.landbank.com, or contact the 24/7 customer service hotline at (02) 8-405-7000 or at PLDT Domestic Toll Free 10800-10-405-7000, for more information.
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LANDBANK reports strides in support of BSP’s EGov Pay
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno (3rd from left) leads the launch of the EGov Pay and QR Ph last November 20, 2019 with (left to right) RCBC President and CEO Eugene S. Acevedo, LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo, PayMaya Founder and CEO Orlando B. Vea, UnionBank President and CEO Edwin R. Bautista. Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) announced that it has already enrolled nearly 700 merchants to its Link.Biz Portal, which facilitates electronic payment to various government and private merchants, in support of the Government e-Payments (EGov Pay) Program of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). This makes LANDBANK the first bank to implement the EGov Pay. At the recent launching of the BSP’s EGov Pay and National Quick Response Code Standard (QR Ph) Programs, LANDBANK said a total of 349 government agencies and 332 private institutions to date are already enrolled in LANDBANK’s Link.Biz Portal, such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), among others. LANDBANK developed the Link.Biz Portal, together with the Philippine Payments Management, Inc. (PPMI) and PESONet, in support of the National Retail Payment System (NRPS), a policy framework that seeks to establish a safe, efficient and reliable retail payment system in the country. “We congratulate the BSP for these milestone initiatives. LANDBANK supports these programs as the safest, most convenient and cost-efficient means of accelerating digital payments across the country. Through our Link.Biz Portal, we are able to help government collect revenues efficiently, which facilitates the prompt delivery of social services to the public through a quick and safe payment mechanism via the internet,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. Link.Biz Portal is designed to allow clients to conveniently pay for products and services online for both government and private institutions, using LANDBANK and other PESONet PayGate participating banks accounts, BANCNET-partner issuing bank accounts, Globe G-Cash accounts, and cash payment option. Meanwhile, LANDBANK said it has also adopted the QR Code for person-to-person (P2P) fund transfers between LANDBANK account holders. The QR Code is a two-dimensional bar code which stores digital information and allows clients to transfer funds to a destination account via an online channel or application, where clients could scan/import the recipient banks’ QR Code via their mobile devices.
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LANDBANK offers BTr’s Premyo Bonds through online channel
LANDBANK Treasury and Investment Banking Sector Head Executive Vice President Carel D. Halog (right photo) discusses the convenience of purchasing the Premyo Bonds via the LANDBANK Link.BizPortal during its recent launch. The Premyo Bonds launch was led by (left photo) National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon (third from right), together with (from right to left) China Bank Capital Corporation President Ryan Martin I. Tapia, LANDBANK EVP Halog, DBP President and CEO Emmanuel G. Herbosa, BDO Capital and Investment Corporation Eduardo V. Francisco, and First Metro Investment Corporation President Rabboni Francis B. Arjonillo. As part of its support to the government’s thrust to make government securities more accessible to the general public, Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) makes available its online payment facility—Link.BizPortal—as a convenient way for its account holders to invest and purchase the Bureau of Treasury’s (BTr) on-going Premyo Bonds offering. LANDBANK announced this initiative during the launch of the Premyo Bonds last November 25, 2019 at the Bulwagan ng Diwang Pilipino, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Head Office, Makati City. National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon led the launch together with top executives from partner banks in both private and public sectors, namely DBP President and CEO Emmanuel G. Herbosa; BDO Capital and Investment Corporation Eduardo V. Francisco; China Bank Capital Corporation President Ryan Martin I. Tapia; First Metro Investment Corporation President Rabboni Francis B. Arjonillo; and LANDBANK Executive Vice Presidents Carel D. Halog and Alan V. Bornas representing LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. EVP Halog presented a step-by-step process in using LANDBANK’s Link.BizPortal for a more convenient way to invest in the Premyo Bonds. “This is a trailblazing effort to help reach the retail investors as part of the government’s financial inclusion efforts, through LANDBANK’s Link.Biz Portal,” EVP Halog said. Premyo Bonds are part of the government’s savings mobilization program designed to make government securities more accessible to retail investors. Proceeds from these will be used to fund government programs on education, housing, and healthcare, among others. “The Premyo Bonds is a public-private partnership for Filipinos to get into the habit of investing,” Treasurer De Leon said during the launch. For as low as Php500.00, interested individuals, cooperatives, provident funds, and retirement funds can invest in these bonds with a fixed 3% interest rate per annum. Investors also automatically qualify for a raffle entry for a chance to win as much as P1 million and other prizes such as condo unit or house and lot. Offer period will run from November 25 to December 13, 2019. For more information, visit https://www.treasury.gov.ph/premyobonds/.
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LANDBANK, City of Manila City sign P10-B loan to finance development projects
Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno (3rd from left) and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo (4th from left) present the signed Loan Agreement for P10 billion which will finance various development project in the City. Joining them are LANDBANK Executive Vice President for Branch Banking Sector Joselito P. Gutierrez (extreme right), LANDBANK Executive Vice President for Agricultural and Development Lending Liduvino S. Geron (2nd from right), Secretary to the Mayor Bernardito C. Ang (extreme left) and City Budget Officer Atty. Mary Grace Chua (2nd from left). Complementing his vigorous campaign to clean-up the streets of Manila from garbage and eyesores, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is also focusing on upgrading the city’s health, educational, tourism and public services facilities. On November 11, 2019, the City Government of Manila signed a P10-billion Loan Agreement with Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) under the Bank’s Omnibus Term Loan Facility (OTLF). The approved loan facility will be used to finance the following: (1) construction and renovation of the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila School of Medicine Building, the new City Hall building, and the Manila Sky Deck; (2) the rehabilitation of Manila Zoo and the development of Pandacan Depot into a commercial district; and (3) the acquisition of equipment, furniture and fixture for these projects. Present during the loan signing were LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo, Executive Vice President for Agricultural and Development Lending Liduvino S. Geron, who signed for the Bank, and Senior Vice President for Corporate Banking Ma. Celeste A. Burgos as witness. They were joined by Executive Vice President for Branch Banking Joselito P. Gutierrez and First Vice President for North NCR Branches Marilou L. Villafranca. Also present were City Legal Officer Atty. Genaro Jose Emeterio S. Moreno, Jr., OIC of the Treasury Department Ma. Jazmin A. Talegon, City Accountant Maria Lourdes R. Manlulu, Secretary to the City Mayor Bernardito C. Ang, and City Budget Officer Atty. Mary Grace Chua. “Over the years, LANDBANK has worked closely with local government units nationwide and has remained the biggest provider of financial assistance and development financing to the sector because we believe that local government is the biggest, if not the most integral, link between the national government and their respective localities,” said President Borromeo. The Bank’s OTLF allows qualified provinces, municipalities, and cities to avail of loans for projects that are listed in their Approved Local Development Plan or Annual Investment Program. This eliminates the inconvenience and associated transaction cost in having to secure loan approval for every single project to be implemented.
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Palay farmers in Cagayan receive P12M in aid
Agriculture Secretary Dr. William D. Dar (3rd from right), LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo (3rd from left), and Cagayan Gov. Manuel N. Mamba (2nd from right) present a ceremonial LANDBANK SURE Aid Cash Card to farmer Gerry Macapulay of Alcala, Cagayan (4th from left) during the launch of the SURE Aid Program in Cagayan. With them are 3rd District Board Member Rodrigo de Asis (extreme left), Municipal Agriculturist Eusebio Manuel (4th from right), LANDBANK Senior Vice President Filipina B. Monje (extreme right), and LANDBANK Assistant Vice President Victor A. Agorto (2nd from left). (Photo courtesy of DA-Communications Group).\ PEÑABLANCA, Cagayan – More than 800 farmers received a total of P12 million in loan assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) during the launch of the Expanded Survival and Recovery Assistance Program for Rice Farmers (SURE Aid) at the Capitol Gymnasium in this municipality. Agriculture Secretary Dr. William D. Dar and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo led the distribution of LANDBANK SURE Aid Cash Cards pre-loaded with the one-time P15,000 loan assistance to 803 qualified farmers from the Municipalities of Piat, Tuao, Amulung, Iguig, Solana, Alcala, Enrile, and Peñablanca. The zero-interest, no collateral loan is payable up to eight years. They were joined by Cagayan Governor Manuel N. Mamba, DA Region 2 Regional Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo, LANDBANK Northern and Central Luzon Lending Group Head Senior Vice President Filipina B. Monje, and LANDBANK Cagayan Lending Center Head Assistant Vice President Victor A. Agorto. “The Province of Cagayan holds great potential in agriculture and aquaculture. As the provincial government, led by Gov. Mamba, nurtures this sector, LANDBANK is more than ready to provide the necessary developmental assistance to local industries, especially to small farmers, fishers and entrepreneurs,” President Borromeo said. A total of P30 million has been allocated under the SURE Aid Program for the estimated 2,000 farmers in the Province of Cagayan who are tilling one hectare and below. To date, some 41,000 palay farmers from 41 provinces nationwide have benefitted from the SURE Aid Program, with more than P600 million in loan assistance distributed under the Program. Meanwhile, the DA also distributed various agricultural assistance and projects to the provincial government of Cagayan during the event, which included P321 million in hybrid seeds (P195 million for rice and P126 million for corn), and P187 million in agricultural machineries, irrigation facilities, and infrastructures.
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Farming family reaps success from mechanized, innovative farming
Left photo: Now heavily involved in the family business, Arjay Vasquez encouraged his father to invest in mechanization. Right Photo: Husband and wife Romeo and Josefa Consuelo Vasquez showcase their innovative farming technique of growing seeds on trays before they are transplanted to the prepared field. Born to a landless tenant farmer in San Mateo, Isabela, Romeo Vasquez was determined to improve his life. He worked odd jobs to support himself through college, eventually earning an Agricultural Engineering Degree from the Central Luzon State University. After graduation, he worked double jobs in Manila as sales representative for a fertilizer company and as a jeepney driver at night. Then with a growing family of his own, he saved all his extra earnings and commissions to buy farm lots. But in 1986, he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his left leg, which had to be amputated. Although his doctor gave him a small chance of complete recovery from the cancer, Romeo refused to give in and instead worked harder for his family. While he remained employed in the fertilizer company, he started cultivating his one-hectare palay farm in his native San Mateo. However, the year 1991 dealt him with both a blessing and a setback – his doctor pronounced him cancer-free, but the fertilizer company he was working for closed down. This prompted him to go back to his farm and, with an additional two hectares mortgaged by local farmers, he created R.S. Vasquez Enterprises as a full-time palay trading, rice milling, and seed production business. Seeking to make quality rice accessible to ordinary consumers, they created their own Mestizo Rice variety, which became sought-after not only in Isabela, but also in neighboring provinces and in Metro Manila. The business gradually expanded, especially after the Land Bank of the Philippines provided credit lines in 2004, which the couple partly used to supply neighboring farmers with their own seed variety for free. In return, the farmers would sell them their harvest. Technology-enabled farming His son, Arjay Rusell, who has been involved in the farm since 2012, encouraged Romeo to invest on mechanization and made sure that the company adopted the latest in rice production technologies. Romeo regularly attended agriculture-related training courses and linked up with the Department of Agriculture (DA) for technical assistance and continuing skills training, which exposed him to various agricultural innovations. R. S. Vasquez Enterprises also began the production of seeds grown in plastic trays containing combined pulverized soil and organic matter. The seedlings are regularly watered before being transplanted to the prepared field using mechanical transplanters. Because of these innovations, the DA named Engr. Vasquez as National Consultant in hybrid rice promotion to teach farmers proper farm waste management, inter-cropping, and other good practices in agribusiness. He has also won various awards through the years, including the Agricultural Entrepreneur Gold Award in The Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines in 2013 and the 3rd place under the Outstanding SME Agri-based Category of the LANDBANK Gawad SME 2018. The business has since then become a family affair, with their sons on top of introducing the latest farming technologies. They now farm several hectares of land and also advocate farm mechanization by helping set up mechanized farm learning centers that teach proper land preparation, farm site development, and irrigation. The Enterprise has also generated more than 80 jobs for the community through its palay trading, seeds production, goat raising, and vegetable production businesses. They recently opened a new agricultural supply business, where they also offer free consultancy on palay production activities and agricultural inputs. Affordable Financing LANDBANK remains aggressive in providing credit support to farmers like Romeo Vasquez, in pursuit of its drive to help more farmers and fishers boost their production and increase their income. “As we make direct financing available to more small farmers and fishers nationwide, we also strongly encourage them to invest on mechanization and adopt other agricultural technologies, as this will significantly decrease production cost and improve their harvest,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. LANDBANK helps small farmers to engage in mechanization through its various credit programs. These include the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF), which helps small farmers and fishers (SFF), their cooperatives and associations, as well as Micro and Small Enterprises, in their crop production requirements and purchase of agri-machineries, equipment, and facilities. Another program that LANDBANK implements is the DA-funded Expanded Rice Credit Assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ERCA-RCEF), which farmers can tap for their rice production or acquisition of rice farm equipment or machinery. This is available to rice farmers registered in the Registry System on Basic Sectors in Agriculture or RSBSA, and to DA-accredited cooperatives. The ACEF Lending Program and ERCA-RCEF now have interest rates fixed at only 2% per annum to make them more affordable for small farmers. The Bank also standardized at 5% per annum the interest rates for most of its direct lending programs for SFFs. These include the Accessible Funds for Delivery to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (AFFORD-ARBs) Program, which provides loans to finance production of rice, corn, and high-value crops, as well as the acquisition of small farm implements.
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SURE Aid Program of DA and LANDBANK reaches palay farmers in Bulacan
(Left photo) Rice Farmers from the province of Bulacan show their SURE Aid cash cards which contain P15,000 cash assistance from the Department of Agriculture and Land Bank of the Philippines. With them are (top row from left to right) LANDBANK Agricultural and Development Lending Sector Head Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron, DA Region 3 Chief Operations Officer Benjamin A. Baltazar, Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando, LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo, Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio C. Cruz, Bulacan Board Members Romeo V. Castro and Bernardo B. Ople, Jr., and Provincial Agriculturist Ma. Gloria SF. Carrillo. (Right photo) Governor Fernando and President Borromeo assist one of the SURE Aid beneficiaries in cashing out the grant at a LANDBANK mobile atm on site. MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan – The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) once again partnered for the distribution of the Expanded Survival and Recovery Assistance Program (SURE Aid) Cash Cards to almost 800 palay farmers in the Province of Bulacan last November 7, 2019 at the Pavilion Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center. Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo led the launch together with Board Members Romeo V. Castro, Jr. and Bernardo B. Ople, Jr., Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio C. Cruz, DA Region 3 Chief Operations Officer Benjamin A. Baltazar, Provincial Agriculturist Ma. Gloria SF. Carrillio, and LANDBANK Agricultural and Development Lending Sector Head Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron. The SURE Aid Program is the government’s initial relief response to palay farmers who are tilling one hectare of land and below, and are affected by the drop in the farm gate price of palay this year. From the initial allocation of P1.5 billion, the Program’s fund is now at P2.5 billion, to be given as loan assistance to rice farmers nationwide either directly or through DA-accredited service conduits. “Ang pagsasaka ay pundasyon ng sambayanan kaya ang pagbibigay suporta sa mga magsasaka ay tahasang nagpapatatag sa haligi ng ating lipunan,” said Governor Fernando. During the event, LANDBANK distributed pre-loaded LANDBANK SURE Aid Cash Cards containing the P15,000 loan assistance to all qualified farmers from 20 cities and municipalities in Bulacan. The one-time, zero-interest, no collateral loan is payable up to eight years. “Makakaasa po kayo na patuloy na pinalalakas ng LANDBANK ang suporta para sa inyo. Sa pakikipagtulungan sa DA, DAR, sa lokal na pamahalaan ng Bulacan, at iba pang mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan, sama-sama po nating isulong ang kapakanan ng bawat magsasaka dito sa Bulacan at sa buong bansa,” said President Borromeo. To complement this effort, LANDBANK has recently launched the “PAlay aLAY sa Magsasaka ng Lalawigan" (PALAY ng Lalawigan) Program which will lend to Provincial/City/Municipal governments of rice-producing provinces to help them procure palay produced by local farmers. The Program also aims to supplement the procurement activities that will be undertaken by the National Food Authority. The Bank has initially earmarked P10 billion to fund the Program. Eligible LGUs may avail of working capital loans for the procurement of palay at 2% per annum. The Bank shall also extend term loan for the acquisition of farm machineries and equipment (post-harvest facilities), and other rice-related projects at considerable terms.
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Palay farmers among first recipients of loan assistance in Mayantoc, Tarlac
(left photo) Mayantoc Mayor Julie P. Icmat (2nd from right) and LANDBANK Branch Banking Sector Head Executive Vice President Joselito P. Gutierrez (rightmost) present palay farmers (L-R) Virginia Gabriel, Arnold Teodoro, and Tirso Sion as the first to avail of the ACEF Loan Program in Mayantoc. (right photo) Meanwhile, Mr. Iggy Castro (3rd from left), owner of Iggy Castro Hardware, is introduced as LANDBANK’s Agent Banking Partner in Mayantoc. They are joined by LANDBANK’s Corporate Banking Group Head Senior Vice President Ma. Celeste Burgos (2nd from right), and Central Luzon Branches Group Head First Vice President Sylvia C. Lim (rightmost). MAYANTOC, Tarlac – Small farmers of palay in this municipality were among the first availers of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Lending Program offered by Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Department of Agriculture (DA). During LANDBANK’s Financial Inclusion (FI) Forum held here last October 19, 2019 and attended by more than 500 participants, 80% of whom were small farmers, palay farmers Virginia Gabriel, Tirso Sion, and Arnold Teodoro were recognized as the first loan availers of the ACEF. “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa LANDBANK dahil malaking tulong pinansyal ang naibigay nila sa akin. Malaking tulong po ito bilang puhunan at budget sa aking pagtatanim,” said Virginia. ACEF is a special purpose fund which aims to increase the productivity of farmers and fishers, their cooperatives and associations, as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) by financing their farming needs such as acquisition and establishment of production, postharvest and processing machineries, equipment and facilities, farm inputs, and improvements. Launched in 2016, the FI Forum is an initiative of LANDBANK which aims to serve unbanked communities in the country through a half-day forum dubbed “Ipon at Kabuhayan Para sa Ating Kababayan.” The event was led by Mayantoc Mayor Julie P. Icmat, LANDBANK Branch Banking Sector Head Executive Vice President Joselito P. Gutierrez, Corporate Banking Group Head Senior Vice President Ma. Celeste Burgos, and Central Luzon Branches Group Head First Vice President Sylvia C. Lim. “Through the Financial Inclusion Forum, LANDBANK aims to bring its products and services closer to the unbanked and underserved communities. We are more than willing to serve the banking needs of the citizens of Mayantoc and finance the farming needs of the local farmers and fishers, to help improve their income and livelihood,” said LANDBANK Executive Vice President Gutierrez. Modules on financial literacy and LANDBANK’s products and services, particularly its lending programs, were also presented during the forum to help farmers manage their finances properly. Also introduced during the same event was LANDBANK’s Agent Banking Program where Iggy Castro Hardware, owned by Mr. Iggy Castro, was presented as the Bank’s Agent Partner in Mayantoc. The LANBANK Agent Banking Program provides the public with basic banking transactions such as Point-of-Sale (POS) cash-out, prepaid card sale, card reload/card refund/withdrawal, balance inquiry, and bills payment. Through partnerships with client cooperatives, associations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and private entities, the Program is targeted to further expand the Bank’s reach in remote and unbanked areas without bank presence. Mayantoc is the 6th stop of the FI Forums this year. A total of 3,752 farmers and fishers have already participated in all six sites of the FI Forums, which include Sto. Niño, Cagayan; Rizal, Palawan; Libacao, Aklan; Aloguinsan, Cebu; and Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte. The last two FI Forums for this run will be held in Claveria, Misamis Oriental and Polillo Island, Quezon.
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LANDBANK brings financial inclusion and banking services to Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte
(Top photo) Agusan del Norte Gov. Dale Corvera (7th from left) and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo (8th from left) lead the ceremonial awarding of ACEF loans to palay farmer Agapito A. Bacalso Sr. (5th from right) and corn farmer Violita T. Prandas (4th from right) during the LANDBANK Financial Inclusion Forum in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte attended by more than 600 small farmers (lower photo). Also introduced during the program was Baug CARP Beneficiaries MPC as the Bank’s Agent Banking Partners in Las Nieves, led by General Manager Luxmi Auxillo (5th from left). Joining them are Las Nieves Mayor Avelina Rosales (9th from left), Vice Mayor Larry Bautista (6th from left), and LANDBANK officials led by Branch Banking Sector Head EVP Joselito Gutierrez (3rd from left), Mindanao Lending Group Head FVP Charlotte I. Conde (2nd from left), East Mindanao Branches Group Head FVP Camilo C. Leyba (rightmost), and CARAGA Lending Center Head Department Manager Linbert Fajunio (leftmost). LAS NIEVES, Agusan del Norte – For most residents of this 2nd class municipality in the northern part of the province, farming and fishing has been the way of life for its close to 30,000 residents, with the nearest banks and financial institutions still two hours away from the nearby cities of Bayugan and Butuan. Las Nieves is one of the country’s 536 cities and municipalities out of 1,634 that have remained unbanked according to the 2017 Financial Inclusion Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). This year, it is one of eight municipalities where Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) is launching its Agent Banking Program, which will provide the public with basic banking transactions such as Point-of-Sale (POS) cash-out, prepaid card sale, card reload/card refund/withdrawal, balance inquiry, and bills payment. Through partnerships with client cooperatives, associations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and private entities, LANDBANK’s Agent Banking Program is targeted to further expand its reach in remote and unbanked areas without the Bank’s presence. During LANDBANK’s 5th Financial Inclusion (FI) Forum for 2019 here last October 12, 2019, the Bank formally introduced the Baug CARP Beneficiaries MPC (BCBMPC) as its first Agent Banking Partner in Las Nieves. Launched in 2016, and now on its fourth year run, the half-day forum, dubbed “Ipon at Kabuhayan para sa ating Kababayan,” gathered more than 600 attendees, majority of whom are farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). “This is part of LANDBANK’s efforts in bringing our products and services closer to the countryside. With this campaign, we hope to uplift the lives of our fellow Filipinos, particularly the small farmers and fishers, and their families, who are in dire need of financial support for their agricultural livelihood activities,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. BCBMPC started as an association of small fishers of shrimps and crabs in 1987. By 1995, they were officially recognized by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) as an ARB-cooperative with 110 members. They were first granted a production loan by LANDBANK on October 12, 1998. And exactly 21 years later, on October 12, 2019, LANDBANK has now partnered with BCBMPC as the Bank’s Agent Banking Partner in Las Nieves under the Agent Banking Program. The Cabadbaran City-based cooperative now boasts of 20,000 coop members, with total assets of P700 million. The LANDBANK FI Forum is an initiative of the Bank in line with its financial inclusion thrust of serving unbanked communities across the country. Since its launch, LANDBANK has helped bring over 10,000 underserved Filipinos under the umbrella of formal financial services from 28 municipalities. Las Nieves is the 5th stop of the FI Forums this year. A total of 3,252 farmers and fishers have already participated in the first five areas of the FI Forums namely, Sto. Niño, Cagayan; Rizal, Palawan; Libacao, Aklan; and Aloguinsan, Cebu. FI Forums will also be conducted in Mayantoc, Tarlac; Claveria, Misamis Oriental; and Polillo Islands, Quezon within the year. During the event, LANDBANK featured modules on financial literacy to help farmers improve their income through the proper management of finances, as well as Bank products and services, particularly its direct lending programs for farmers. These programs include the Accessible Funds For Delivery to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (AFFORD-ARBs), the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF), and the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). At the same time, BCBMPC received a ceremonial check from LANDBANK in the amount of Php200 million representing its loan from the Bank for relending to small farmers and fishers. Joining LANDBANK President Borromeo at the event were Agusan del Norte Governor Dale B. Corvera, Las Nieves Mayor Avelina S. Rosales, LANDBANK Executive Vice President for Branch Banking Sector Joselito P. Gutierrez, East Mindanao Branches Group Head First Vice President Camilo C. Leyba, Mindanao Lending Group Head First Vice President Charlotte I. Conde, CARAGA Lending Center Head Department Manager Linbert Fajunio, and Butuan Branch Head Department Manager Augustus Manuel E. Mantua. Meanwhile, farmers who availed of the ACEF loan program were also recognized during the event, namely Agapito A. Bacalso Sr. (palay production) and Violita T. Prandas (corn production).
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LANDBANK and DPWH join hands for “Build, Build, Build” program
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar (third from left) and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo (third from right) led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement that will support the completion of the “Build, Build, Build” Program of the National Government. This was witnessed by DPWH Assistant Secretaries Eduardo S. Ramos (leftmost) and Maximo L. Carvajal (second from left), LANDBANK Executive Vice President Julio D. Climaco, Jr. (second from right), and LANDBANK Head of Property Valuation and Credit Information Department Assistant Vice President Buenaventura R. Del Rosario (rightmost). The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is tapping the appraisal services of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) to help speed-up the completion of projects that will support the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) Program of the National Government. DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on October 14, 2019 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Malate, Manila. They were joined by DPWH Assistant Secretaries Eduardo S. Ramos and Maximo L. Carvajal, LANDBANK Executive Vice President for Corporate Services Sector Julio D. Climaco, Jr., and LANDBANK Assistant Vice President Buenaventura R. Del Rosario, Head of Property Valuation and Credit Information Department. “Today’s MOA signing is specific to our mandate of supporting National Government projects for the development of the country as a whole. We hope that our assistance can help ease this process, as we vigorously work together with DPWH in facilitating the acquisition of ‘Right-Of-Way’ sites to be used in government infrastructure projects,” said President Borromeo. Under the MOA, the Bank will appraise lands and properties affected by DPWH projects to determine its market value, which is one of the requirements for the Department to acquire its Right-of-Way (ROW) as provided under Republic Act 10752 or “The Right of Way Act.” The partnership agreement will cover 1,527 DPWH projects nationwide, including farm-to-market roads, bypass roads, and road widening, amounting to an estimated appraisal service fee of P495.78 million. According to DPWH, it has tapped the services of LANDBANK because of the adequate ability, expertise, and experience in property valuation and appraisal of the Bank’s licensed appraisers nationwide. When he assumed office, President Rodrigo R. Duterte initiated the BBB Program as its flagship economic project, which seeks to accelerate infrastructure spending and develop industries that will yield robust growth, create jobs and improve the lives of Filipinos. With an estimated budget of P8.4 trillion spread over six years, the Program is meant to usher in a “golden age of infrastructure,” bringing in more than 9,000 kilometers of roads; 2,000 bridges; 4,000 flood control projects, as well as new railways and airports. As the engineering and construction arm of the National Government, DPWH serves as the conduit for the implementation of the BBB Program. Meanwhile, LANDBANK heeds the National Government’s call for a concerted effort among its agencies to expedite the completion of national development projects.
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