MANILA – The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) have launched a specialized financing program aimed at accelerating digital transformation in agriculture and improving the productivity of rice farmers.

The Agri-Negosyo Loan Program–Palay Yield Enhancement Financing Facility (ANYO-Palay) is designed to provide small rice farmers with accessible credit alongside digital tools to improve palay production, increase yields, manage risks, and enhance farm efficiency.

The initiative supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to modernize the agriculture sector under the National Government’s UPLIFT Program, which is a whole-of-government response to the economic impact of the Middle East conflict on Filipinos and local livelihoods.

The program was formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed on May 14, 2026, at the LANDBANK Plaza in Malate, Manila, between LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and ACPC Executive Director Rallen O. Verdadero. The signing was witnessed by LANDBANK Executive Vice President Charlotte I. Conde and ACPC Director Noel Clarence M. Ducusin.

“Digitalization has long been part of our national agenda, recognized for its capacity to raise efficiency, enhance transparency, and strengthen decision-making. Through ANYO-Palay, this vision is translated into targeted, on-the-ground support, aligning affordable financing with digital adoption to raise yields and manage risks more effectively,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz.

As a sub-program of ACPC’s Agri-Negosyo Lending Program, ANYO-Palay offers a concessional interest rate of 2 percent per annum to small rice farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). The program aims to make modern farming technologies more accessible nationwide.

“ANYO-Palay is not just a lending facility, it is an initiative of the government to raise our rice farmers up and help them build their own futures by building their resilience, improving their productivity, and making them more competitive in the long run,” said ACPC Executive Director Verdadero.

Under the program, farmers may borrow up to ₱30,000 per hectare for production inputs, covering up to three hectares, and up to ₱25,000 for digital farming tools and technologies. The facility will be available nationwide until December 31, 2028, subject to extension by ACPC.

“Magandang inisyatibo ito upang anyayahan ang bagong henerasyon na tahakin ang pagsasaka. Sa tulong ng modernisasyon, maipagpapatuloy ng kabataan ang pagpapakain sa ating bayan habang naiaangat nila ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay,” said Gregorio T. Garde, a farmer leader from Tiaong, Quezon.

Jeremiah Macias II, president and CEO of Seer Satellite Solutions Inc., also underscored the importance of data-driven farming.

“Malaki ang maitutulong sa ating mga farmers kung ang kanilang steps at decision ay data driven. At malaking bagay ang ANYO-Palay ng LANDBANK at DA-ACPC para matulungan ang mga farmers natin na ma-adapt ang mga bagong teknolohiya para mapalago ang kanilang mga kabuhayan,” he said.

LANDBANK said the initiative is part of its broader push to expand support for agriculture through inclusive financing. As of March 2026, its loans to agriculture, fisheries, and rural development reached ₱908.77 billion, accounting for more than 58 percent of its total loan portfolio.

LANDBANK and DA-ACPC said they remain committed to scaling up technology-driven and inclusive agriculture by improving access to financing and supporting digital solutions to enhance productivity, efficiency, and resilience in rice farming communities.