Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) reinforced its commitment to agriculture and financial inclusion with the provincial rollout of the AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program in Negros Oriental and the launch of its first Cash-Lite Campus initiative in the Visayas.
LANDBANK president and chief executive Lynette Ortiz led the activities, joined by Negros Oriental Reps. Ma. Isabel Sagarbarria and Janice Mira Degamo, Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi, and Mabinay Mayor Ernie Uy. The event at the Bais City Multi-Purpose Facility drew more than 2,000 farmers and fishers from across the province.
“We begin 2026 here in Negros Oriental with a clear purpose: to champion the farmers and fishers who feed our nation,” Ortiz said. “AGRISENSO Plus provides smart capital to help them adapt, ascend the value chain, and transform the province’s rich harvests into enduring prosperity.”
The AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program offers small farmers, fishers, agrarian reform beneficiaries, and agri-business enterprises access to financing at a fixed interest rate of 3 percent per annum. It includes simplified documentation and free insurance coverage.
Belmar De Baguio, president of the Bago Farmers’ Association, said the 3 percent interest rate is a significant help to local farmers.
As of Dec. 31, 2025, LANDBANK has released P3.03 billion $51.5 million in loans to more than 14,500 borrowers nationwide. The bank aims to reach an additional 10,500 farmers and fishers in 2026 as the program expands.
In Dumaguete City, LANDBANK launched its first Cash-Lite Campus in the Visayas at Metro Dumaguete College (MDC), joined by MDC president Delma Manila. The initiative integrates digital payment solutions for students and faculty.
“Through this cash-lite initiative, we are doing more than introducing a payment system,” Manila said. “We are easing burdens for families and allowing students to focus on learning.”
MDC students can now open LANDBANK PISO Plus accounts via mobile app to pay tuition and fees online. The initiative builds on the bank’s digital growth, which saw 800 million digital transactions in 2025, a 27 percent increase year-on-year.
