Landbank continues to make agricultural financing more accessible with the integration of online applications under the Agrisenso Plus Lending Program, allowing farmers to conveniently apply for loans anytime and anywhere, and underscoring its commitment to simplify access to affordable credit.
The program’s rollout at the Cadiz City Arena Oct. 30 was attended by more than 1,700 farmers from Cadiz and neighboring areas, and led by Landbank president and CEO Lynette Ortiz and Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
They were joined by Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation president Jovy Bernabe, Agricultural Credit Policy Council deputy executive director Ma. Cristina Lopez, 2nd District Rep. Thirdy Maranon, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. and Vice Mayor John Vincent Escalante, among others.
“Landbank has seen how our farmers continue to face so many challenges — from the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, to the impact of climate change, unstable farmgate prices, and market access,” Ortiz said in a statement. “This is why we designed Agrisenso Plus to provide holistic and practical solutions to the challenges faced by our farmers and fisherfolk.”
The lending program, developed in partnership with the DA, ACPC, Department of Agrarian Reform, National Irrigation Administration, and private sector partners, is a value chain-based financing initiative that provides holistic support to agricultural stakeholders, with simplified documentary requirements, free life and credit life insurance, and expanded access to technical and market support to help boost productivity and profitability.
It offers a lowered fixed interest rate of only three percent per annum, down from four percent, for small farmers, fishers, and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), with competitive rates for their associations, cooperatives, micro, small, and medium enterprises, large enterprises, anchor firms, and agriculture graduates, the bank said.
Complementing the lending program is Landbank Ascend (Agri-Fishery Support through Capability Enhancement for Nationwide Development), a capacity-building initiative that equips farmers and fishers with training in digital financial literacy, sustainable agriculture, and enterprise development.
As of August 2025, Landbank has released P1.78 billion in loans under the Agrisenso Plus Lending Program, supporting over 12,000 borrowers nationwide.
The Negros Occidental rollout in Cadiz followed successful launches in Pampanga, Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, Bukidnon, Iloilo, and Palawan.
The program also strengthens market linkages through partnerships with several firms.
Further advancing its digitalization efforts, Landbank successfully piloted the first provincial rollout of its Person-to-Merchant (P2M) QR payment facility in Negros Occidental.
The P2M facility delivers a two-fold benefit for both consumers and Landbank-accredited merchants. It is an interoperable payment channel that allows consumers to avail of free transfer fees for purchases worth P500 and below when paying via QRPh-P2M using the bank’s mobile banking app (MBA), other banking apps, or digital wallets. Participating merchants also benefit from waived merchant fees for every transaction.
This digital innovation further empowers farmers and MSMEs by offering a faster, more convenient, and secure way to receive payments, while reducing their reliance on cash transactions and promoting wider digital adoption across agricultural communities, the bank said, adding that business owners can enroll their existing Landbank accounts, with P2M activation completed within just 24 to 48 hours. ||
