MANILA, PHILIPPINES – In a major push for rural development, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), a key member of ADFIAP, has reported that ₱3.46 billion in loans were disbursed under its AgriSenso Plus program as of the end of the first quarter of 2026.
This substantial credit injection has directly benefited more than 14,900 farmers and fishers, providing them with the capital needed to scale their operations and strengthen local food security. The program offers accessible financing tailored to the specific needs of small-scale producers, reinforcing LANDBANK’s role as a cornerstone of the Philippine agricultural sector.
Beyond Credit: The ASCEND Program
In addition to direct lending, LANDBANK recently launched the ASCEND program to ensure long-term sustainability for its borrowers. The initiative bridges the gap between financing and modernization by offering:
- Digital Financial Literacy: Empowering rural producers to utilize digital banking tools for more efficient business management.
- Sustainable Agriculture Guidance: Offering technical support to help farmers transition into competitive, climate-resilient agribusinesses.
Strategic Showcase at ADFIAP-AFD Regional Forum
The success of these initiatives was recently highlighted on the regional stage by LANDBANK Vice President Danilo Crobalde during the joint ADFIAP-AFD Webinar held on March 25, 2026.
Titled “Unlocking Financing and Investment Opportunities in the Blue Economy in the Asia-Pacific Region,” the webinar was organized in collaboration with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The event served as a vital platform for Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) within the ADFIAP network to exchange best practices for mobilizing capital for “blue” and “green” projects.
By presenting the AgriSenso Plus and ASCEND models, LANDBANK demonstrated to its regional peers that targeted agricultural lending and digital empowerment can serve as a blueprint for balancing economic growth with ecosystem preservation across the Asia-Pacific region.