"We appreciate LANDBANK for recognizing the importanceofthese programs to our agricultural communities. Partnershipswith government institutions, financial institutions, andlocal stakeholders are necessary if we want real and lastingprogressin the countryside," said Cotabato Governor Taliño-Mendoza. For farmer Rex S. Dimas from Carmen, Cotabato, farminghaslong been his family’s primary livelihood, but accesstocapital has always been a challenge in meeting productioncosts.Through the Agrisenso Plus Lending Program, he found a more sustainable financing option — freeing him from the burden of costly private and informal borrowing.
LANDBANK brings inclusive financial services closer to Mindanao
Press Release — June 8, 2026
LANDBANK brings inclusive financial services closer to Mindanao
KABACAN, North Cotabato — More farmers, fishers, and local entrepreneurs in North Cotabatonowhave greater access to affordable financing and digital banking solutions as LANDBANKexpandedits initiatives across the province.
The Agrisenso Plus Lending Program and the Uswag MSME Fair held on 04 June2026at theUniversity of Southern Mindanao (USM) gathered over 1,400 participants. This includedaround1,200 farmers and fishers — 600 of whom are USM agri-graduates —as well as 200 micro, small,and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
These efforts underscore LANDBANK’s continuous push to create economic opportunitiesinMindanao’s key food-producing and commercial provinces, in close collaboration withlocal andnational stakeholders, led by Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza and ViceGovernorRochella Marie “Ella” Taliño Taray, and USM President Dr. Jonald L. Pimentel.
Other partner agencies include the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of AgrarianReform(DAR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology(DOST),Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), National Food Authority (NFA), andtheBangkoSentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
“By combining accessible financing with on-ground financial education and enterprisesupport,LANDBANK is helping translate inclusion into real economic opportunities. These initiativesaredesigned to strengthen resilience, improve productivity, and enable farmers andMSMEstoparticipate more actively in growth,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz.
These initiatives also support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Unified Package for Livelihoods,Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Program, which aims to reinforce food security andprotectvulnerable sectors amid global economic and energy pressures.
Driving growth for agriculture and MSMEs
As a key agricultural hub for rice, rubber, and high-value crops, North Cotabato requiresstrongsupport to meet production costs and cultivate expansion. In response, the Agrisenso PlusLending Program provides small farmers, fishers, and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) withloansat afixed 3.0% annual interest rate.
The LANDBANK ASCEND Program works in parallel to build farmers’ capabilities throughtrainingindigital finance, sustainable practices, and enterprise development while offering credit support toUSM agri-graduates. This helps turn academic training into viable enterprises that driveagricultural innovation.
“Napakaganda nitong programa ng LANDBANK na Agrisenso Plus. Dahil noong nagsimula kami sa farming, hirap po kami sa puhunan. Nanghihiram kami sa private organization o mga kapitbahay na may 20% interest per month. Kaya kakaiba talaga ang programa ng LANDBANK,” said Dimas, who received his loan proceeds last April under the program.
At the LANDBANK Uswag MSMEFair, local
entrepreneurs were introduced totheBank’sLIFTING MSMEs Lending Programforoperational and capital needs, as well astheSULONG MSME Solution Suite for streamliningpayments, payroll, collections, andgovernmentcontributions. Eligible sole proprietorswerealsoable to open accounts via the LANDBANKMobile Banking App (MBA) and receivedoneyear of free life and accident insuranceuponloan availment.
For former OFW and Kidapawan-based entrepreneur Mabel Jonne Cunanan, owner of TitaNots Bakeshop, LANDBANK has been a key partner in helping her and her husband grow their business by providing affordable financing and favorable terms. As they plan their next phase of expansion, they look forward to tapping LANDBANK again for additional working capital.
“Natulungan kami [ng LANDBANK] na mag-boom ang business namin. And I hope na magiging partner pa namin ang LANDBANK for our expansion. Hindi lang kami ang matutulungan, but even our employees na magkakaroon ng security sa employment nila,” said Cunanan, underscoring the importance of accessible capital for MSMEs to grow.
By expanding access to funding and capability-building initiatives in growth centers likeNorthCotabato, LANDBANK affirms its commitment to rural development and a more inclusiveandresilientPhilippine economy. #
It is time to call to task our legislators to buckle down to brass tacks and do what their mandate is crystal clear.
Lately, a young woman named Janine found her way into my idle moments while scrolling social media sites. The song was originally hers, not found among the OPM classics in the karaoke menu. At first, her voice - raw, shrieking, almost unhinged - was not interesting. The next day, the lyrics she delivered pierced throug
YouTube will in future automatically detect AI-generated content and flag the information to viewers on its platform, the Google-owned company said on Wednesday.
