LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (4th from left) and Yovel East Research and Development, Inc. President and CEO James P. Amparo (3rd from left) formalize a collaboration to empower Filipino farmers with accessible financing for innovative farming solutions on 14 January 2025 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Manila. Joining them as witnesses are Go Negosyo Founder and ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines Chair Jose Ma. Concepcion III (2nd from left), Go Negosyo-KALAP Senior Adviser and former Agriculture Secretary Dr. William D. Dar (leftmost), and LANDBANK officials Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos (5th from left) and First Vice President Eden B. Japitana (rightmost).
In line with promoting modern and sustainable agriculture, LANDBANK and Yovel East Research and Development, Inc. (Yovel East) have recently partnered to further intensify support for Filipino farmers through accessible and increased financing and greater private-sector collaboration.
The partnership is set to expand the reach and impact of the LANDBANK AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program—designed to provide holistic and strategic support for key players in the agricultural value chain—and assist Yovel East in managing clustered farms to deliver comprehensive assistance to its farmer-beneficiaries.
LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and Yovel East President and CEO James P. Amparo formalized the partnership on 14 January 2025 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Manila. Present as witnesses were Go Negosyo Founder and ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines Chair Jose Ma. Concepcion III, Go Negosyo-KALAP Senior Adviser and former Agriculture Secretary Dr. William D. Dar, and LANDBANK officials Executive Vice President Ma. Celeste A. Burgos and First Vice President Eden B. Japitana.
“At LANDBANK, we believe that financial assistance is just one piece of the puzzle in addressing the challenges faced by the agricultural sector. Our mission extends to providing comprehensive support across the entire agricultural ecosystem,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz.
Under the partnership, Yovel East will serve as an anchor firm for the LANDBANK AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program and endorse potential borrowers to LANDBANK, while promoting technology-driven pre- and post-harvest facilities.
Yovel East, a leading agricultural enterprise in the Philippines, is transforming rice production through its innovative "WeWillRice Program," which delivers a fully integrated, end-to-end rice production process for clustered farms. The Program facilitates the buyback of palay and manages the wholesale or retail marketing of produce, which ensures stable markets, promotes efficiency, and maximizes benefits for farmers.
“Providing sustainability and consistency is always the thing that we want to achieve. Through this partnership, Yovel East assures that we will further expand the reach of AGRISENSO Plus and our WeWillRice Program to help more farmers,” said Yovel East President and CEO James Amparo.
For its part, LANDBANK will be extending to eligible partners endorsed by Yovel East the AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program that provides affordable financing to small farmers and fishers, Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), and the whole agriculture value chain, aimed at bolstering nationwide food security and sufficiency.
As of December 2024, the LANDBANK AGRISENSO Plus has supported 3,346 farmers with an outstanding loan portfolio amounting to P494.8 million.
LANDBANK remains committed to its mandate of promoting agriculture, fisheries and rural development, and empowering all players of the agriculture value chain and their communities towards a brighter future.
ABOUT LANDBANK
LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the Philippines promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable national development. Present in all 82 provinces in the country, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.