Efforts to advance food security and inclusive agricultural growth in the region, through collaboration with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines (ASEAN-BAC Philippines) and other strategic partners have been ramped up, the Landbank said May 10.
These initiatives address financing gaps, fortify agricultural value chains, and boost the resilience of ASEAN food systems, in line with the national government’s overarching food security agenda, it added.
The collaboration was highlighted during a high-level roundtable discussion on ASEAN food security in Manila May 4 under the ASEAN-BAC Philippines platform. The discussion featured the ASEAN Food Security Alliance (AFSA) policy paper as key reference for dialogue on pressing regional challenges, including supply chain constraints, climate risks, and the need for more integrated, investment-driven solutions.
The roundtable convened leaders from the public and private sectors, including ASEAN-BAC Philippines chair Joey Concepcion; Quezon Province Vice Governor Anacleto Alcala III; Landbank president and CEO Lynette Ortiz; former Department of Agriculture secretary William Dar; SEARCA director Mercidita Sombilla; Yovel East Agriventures founder and president James Amparo; and Yakap at Halik Multi-Purpose Cooperative general manager Robert Diala.
During the event, the bank executives joined these key stakeholders in a broader multi-sector partnership to formalize on-the-ground initiatives designed to enhance agricultural productivity, uplift farmer welfare, and expand market linkages. This alliance underscores a shared commitment to transforming regional food systems through actionable cooperation.
“Food security is no longer just a national concern — it is a regional imperative that requires decisive action and sustained investment,” Ortiz stressed, adding that Landbank is committed to mobilizing capital, strengthening value chains, and anchoring partnerships that enable farmers, cooperatives, and agri-enterprises to thrive.
“Through our collaboration with ASEAN-BAC Philippines and other stakeholders, we are helping turn shared priorities into scalable, long-term solutions for a more resilient ASEAN food system,” she added.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to this regional agenda, marked by support for the ASEAN Food Security and Agribusiness Summit 2026. The bank’s involvement extends to active participation in regional engagements aimed at accelerating investments, driving innovation, and optimizing cooperation across the agri-food value chain.
The bank’s outstanding loans to agriculture, fisheries, and rural development already reached P908.77 billion, as of March this year, representing 58.44 percent of its total loan portfolio.
Beyond financing, the bank continues to advance value chain-based approaches that support post-harvest handling, storage, processing, logistics, and market access, while promoting risk-sharing mechanisms and bankable investments in cold storage, logistics hubs, and climate-smart infrastructure, it added. ||
