MANILA — LANDBANK reaffirmed its commitment to building a sustainable and resilient food system in the country by showcasing its financing programs, capacity-building initiatives, and digital solutions during the inaugural Terra Madre Asia & Pacific 2025 held from November 19 to 23 in Bacolod City.

Terra Madre Asia & Pacific, part of the global Slow Food Movement, gathered more than 2,000 farmers, fishers, international chefs, indigenous leaders, and advocates to promote “good, clean, and fair” food alongside biodiversity conservation and sustainable food systems.

“LANDBANK and Slow Food aligns with sustainable and inclusive agriculture. Through this partnership, we aim to further strengthen local food systems, empower our farmers and fishers, and help ensure that every Filipino has access to nutritious, clean, and fairly produced food,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz.

The Slow Food movement, founded in Italy in 1989, advocates for local food cultures, traditional farming practices, and biodiversity. It promotes food that is good in quality and taste, clean in its respect for the environment, and fair in pricing and conditions for producers. The movement now operates in more than 160 countries, working with communities to advance sustainable, community-centered food practices.

“Good, clean, and fair food for all is a universal right. To achieve this, we must protect our biodiversity and environment, as this principle is inseparable from supporting our farmers and ensuring everyone has access to proper, quality food,” said Reena Gamboa, Terra Madre Executive Director.

LANDBANK said its agricultural programs are anchored on these principles by strengthening value-chain linkages and complementing community-led efforts through financial support and digital tools for producers, processors, and markets.

Its participation as a key sponsor of Terra Madre Asia & Pacific 2025 highlights its continued support for Slow Food initiatives and its commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture, food security, biodiversity conservation, and community-driven, climate-resilient value chains.

Programs for farmers and fishers

On November 20, LANDBANK First Vice President Allan R. Bisnar introduced AGRISENSO Plus, the Bank’s flagship lending program offering credit, technical assistance, and digital solutions, along with free life and credit life insurance for small farmers and fishers. The program provides customized financing, market linkages, and data-driven insights to improve productivity and efficiency.

The program offers a reduced fixed interest rate of 3% per annum for small farmers, fishers, and agrarian reform beneficiaries, with competitive options for associations, cooperatives, MSMEs, large enterprises, anchor firms, and agriculture graduates.

“AGRISENSO Plus reflects our commitment to strengthening the entire agricultural value chain. By combining accessible financing, capacity-building, and digital solutions, we are enabling our farmers and food producers to thrive in a rapidly changing environment and ensuring that local food systems remain resilient and sustainable,” Ortiz added.

LANDBANK also highlighted its ASCEND program, which provides training on digital financial literacy, sustainable agriculture, and enterprise development.

As of September 2025, the Bank had released over ₱1.96 billion in loans under AGRISENSO Plus, supporting more than 12,300 borrowers, most of them small farmers and fishers, following rollouts in Pampanga, Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, Bukidnon, Iloilo, Palawan, and Negros Occidental.

Boosting digital inclusion

LANDBANK also presented its digital innovations, including its Person-to-Merchant (P2M) QR payment facility launched in Negros Occidental. The interoperable system allows consumers to avail of waived transfer fees for purchases of ₱500 and below using QRPh-P2M via the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App, other banking apps, or digital wallets.

Merchants using LANDBANK P2M benefit from waived transaction fees, encouraging wider digital payment adoption. The Bank said this enables farmers, MSMEs, and local enterprises to receive payments faster and more securely, while reducing cash-handling risks and expanding digital access in agricultural communities.

Business owners may enroll their existing LANDBANK accounts, with activation completed within 24 to 48 hours.