The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) gathered small farmers and fishers,
agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), and their organizations to discuss the National
Government’s development plan towards building sustainable and resilient agrarian
reform communities.
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
Development (BARBD) Director Dr. Ronald M. Gareza, CESO IV and LANDBANK
Program Management Department I Head, Assistant Vice President Edgardo S. Luzano
led the discussions during the fourth run of the LANDBANK AgriSenso Virtual Forum on
24 October 2022.
They were joined by agriculture partners and loan availers, namely Mauanan
Baluncanag Gaddangao Farmers Irrigators Credit Cooperative Treasurer Sharon B. Eugenio, Southern Isabela ARB Charibel Francesca, and Batangas Egg Producers Multi-
Purpose Cooperative Director Cecille A. Virtucio, who shared how LANDBANK and DAR
have assisted to enhance their productivity and income.
Director Gareza discussed the various interventions that DAR has been carrying out to
help address the challenges facing ARBs in land tenure and disputes. He also
underscored the importance of support services, including capacity development and
credit and marketing assistance, to support and ease the burden of ARBs.
Meanwhile, AVP Luzano, together with Program Officers Glecy Angeles and Crisso
Pernito, presented the features of the various credit programs being offered by
LANDBANK for ARBs and their organizations.
Accessible financing for ARBs, ARBOs LANDBANK and DAR have been working closely to extend affordable financing and support services for ARBs and their organizations.
Under the Accessible Funds for Delivery to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (AFFORD-
ARBs) Program, LANDBANK provides direct credit assistance to individual ARBs who are
not yet members of Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs). The loans can
be used for the production of rice, corn and high-value crops, and acquisition of small
farm implements, such as hand tractors and power tillers.
The Bank has released a total of P506.1 million to 2,200 borrowers under the AFFORD-
ARBs Program as of 30 September 2022.
LANDBANK, in partnership with DAR, also implements the Credit Assistance Program for
Program Beneficiaries Development (CAP-PBD), designed for ARBOs that are not yet
qualified to borrow under the regular lending window of the Bank.
The Program provides credit assistance and support services to ARBs through their
respective organizations for crop production, agri-enterprise or livelihood and other
agri-related projects.
LANDBANK and DAR also offer the Expanded Assistance to Restore and Install
Sustainable Enterprises for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and Small Farm Holders (E-
ARISE-ARBs), designed to assist ARBOs which and whose members were adversely
affected by natural calamities or disasters, pests and diseases, and other viral infections
or outbreaks.
As of September 2022, LANDBANK’s combined releases under CAP-PBD and E-ARISE-
ARBs have reached P736.4 million, benefitting 219 ARBOs with more than 11,000 ARBs
and small farm holder-members nationwide.
Qualified ARBOs can also avail of credit assistance under the Enhanced Partnership
Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Lending Program of LANDBANK, which can be
used to purchase orders or contract receivables from government agencies for the
provision of needed food items.
The Program supports the government’s efforts to address hunger, poverty, food
security and nutrition, through community participation in government contracts.
LANDBANK’s total loan releases under the EPAHP Lending Program have reached P9.6
million to seven agri suppliers as of September 2022.
