Metro Manila, Philippines – More farmers, fishers, and local entrepreneurs in Cotabato now have greater access to affordable financing and digital banking solutions as the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) expanded its initiatives to the regions.
The Agrisenso Plus Lending Program and the Uswag MSME Fair held on June 4 at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) gathered over 1,400 participants, including around 1,200 farmers and fishers — 600 of whom were USM agri-graduates — as well as 200 micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
These efforts underscore LANDBANK’s continuous push to create economic opportunities in Mindanao’s key food-producing and commercial provinces, in close collaboration with local and national stakeholders, led by Cotabato Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza, Vice Gov. Rochella Marie “Ella” Taliño Taray, and USM President Jonald L. Pimentel.
Other partner agencies were the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, National Food Authority, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
“By combining accessible financing with on-ground financial education and enterprise support, LANDBANK is helping translate inclusion into real economic opportunities. These initiatives are designed to strengthen resilience, improve productivity, and enable farmers and MSMEs to participate more actively in growth,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette Ortiz.
Driving growth for agriculture and MSMEs
As a key agricultural hub for rice, rubber, and high-value crops, Cotabato requires strong support to meet production costs and cultivate expansion. In response, the Agrisenso Plus Lending Program provides small farmers, fishers, and agrarian reform beneficiaries with loans at a fixed 3.0% annual interest rate.
The LANDBANK ASCEND program works in parallel to build farmers’ capabilities through training in digital finance, sustainable practices, and enterprise development while offering credit support to USM agri-graduates. This helps turn academic training into viable enterprises that drive agricultural innovation.
“We appreciate LANDBANK for recognizing the importance of these programs to our agricultural communities. Partnerships with government institutions, financial institutions, and local stakeholders are necessary if we want real and lasting progress in the countryside,” said Taliño-Mendoza.
For farmer Rex Dimas of Carmen, Cotabato, farming has long been his family’s primary livelihood, but access to capital has always been a challenge in meeting production costs. Through the Agrisenso Plus Lending Program, he found a more sustainable financing option — freeing him from the burden of costly private and informal borrowing.
“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 MSME Fair, local entrepreneurs were introduced to the Bank’s LIFTING MSMEs Lending Program for operational and capital needs, as well as the SULONG MSME Solution Suite for streamlining payments, payroll, collections, and government contributions. Eligible sole proprietors were also able to open accounts via the LANDBANK mobile banking app and received one year of free life and accident insurance upon loan 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 like Cotabato, LANDBANK affirms its commitment to rural development and a more inclusive and resilient economy.
