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More than 700 rice farmers received loans through the Land Bank of the Philippines’ (LANDBANK) AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program in Lal-lo, Cagayan, on January 24, 2025.

The program is designed to make financing easier and more accessible for farmers, fisherfolk, Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It offers faster loan processing, less requirements, quick fund transfers via the LANDBANK card and mobile app, and added perks like free life and credit life insurance.

“Sa programang ito, matutulungan natin ang mga magsasaka na maparami ang produksyon ng bigas. Kung may kilala kayong farmers na hindi pa kasali, pasalihin ninyo sila sa next cropping para makinabang din sila,” said DA Undersecretary for Operations, Agri-Fisheries Mechanization, and Rural Credit, Engr. Roger V. Navarro.

LANDBANK has allocated an initial P10 billion for the program, with the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) contributing an additional P1 billion.

LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz thanked all the program’s partners and reassured the farmers: “Kasama niyo po ang LANDBANK sa bawat hakbang ng inyong tagumpay. Sa AGRISENSO Plus, sama-sama nating itataguyod ang mas maunlad at mas matatag na sektor ng agrikultura.”

Many beneficiaries are members of the Unified Tiller Agricultural Cooperative (UTAC) in Isabela, which produces rice and operates a facility for drying and milling.

UTAC Chief Cooperative Officer Artemio Guzman shared, “Timely ang loan dahil sa mga bagyong dumaan sa Cagayan. Malaking tulong ito sa mga farmers, lalo na’t ipinakilala rin namin ang regenerative farming.”

The program also includes a capacity-building component called ASCEND, which provides financial literacy training to help borrowers grow their livelihoods sustainably. Recently, the DA-ACPC trained 612 farmers from UTAC, equipping them to borrow responsibly under the program.

Farmer Gilbert Rieta, 42, from Buguey, emphasized the importance of paying loans on time: “Dapat magbayad ka sa takdang oras para makaulit ka. Kung may pambayad na, bayaran na agad.”

Another farmer, Jonathan Arellano, 47, from Camalaniugan, shared his relief: “Kadalasan, nangungutang ako sa mga kapitbahay o kamag-anak. Minsan meron, minsan wala. Ngayon, may magagamit na ako sa pagtatanim. Maluwag na sa pakiramdam.”

The AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program is a collaborative effort by LANDBANK, DA-ACPC, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Key attendees at the event included DAR Secretary Conrado F. Estrella III, DA Regional Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino, ACPC OIC Executive Director Ma. Cristina Lopez, and local officials from Cagayan, all showing their support for the initiative.