FINEX Foundation launches sustainability handbook for inclusive, responsible development

LANDBANK reinforced its leadership in sustainable finance as it partnered with the FINEX Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (FINEX Foundation) to launch the FINEX Sustainability Handbook on 23 February 2026 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Malate, Manila.

Serving as a consolidated guide for integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into operations and financial decision-making, the handbook recognizes  the requirement for practical and actionable sustainability solutions. LANDBANK will help distribute the digital copy of the handbook across its network of farmers, cooperatives, and marginalized communities, helping bring sustainability principles to the grassroots level.

LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz led the event, together with LANDBANK Director and 2025 FINEX Environment Committee Chair Gaudencio S. Hernandez, Jr., 2025 FINEX Foundation Chair Augusto D. Bengzon, and 2026 FINEX Foundation Chair Edmund Alan A. Qua Hiansen.

“Across the country, many of our farmers, cooperatives, rural communities, and organizations are already confronting the realities of climate risk. They need tools that help turn awareness into action. This handbook responds to that need by providing clear, practical guidance grounded in real-world experience. It demystifies climate change and makes sustainability both accessible and actionable,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz.

A landmark resource for responsible and inclusive finance

Developed by the FINEX Foundation through its Environment Committee, with Ms. Wilma I. Miranda as Editor-in-Chief, the FINEX Sustainability Handbook features articles on the topics of Climate Change, Natural Farming, Environmental Awareness, and Good Governance, emphasizing alignment with national climate-resilience goals and shared responsibility across sectors.

In his remarks, LANDBANK Director Hernandez expressed the Handbook’s role in sustainability across sectors: “Today’s launch reflects a shared belief that sustainability is not just an aspiration, but a responsibility—one that requires collaboration across institutions and sectors.”

Sharing this sentiment, FINEX Foundation Chair Qua Hiansen described sustainability as a “continuous journey.” He further added that it “demands collaboration among government, business, financial institutions, and civil society.”

Empowering communities through sustainable finance

As the country’s largest government financial institution, LANDBANK plays a central role in promoting responsible finance, inclusive development, and climate-resilient growth. Its partnership with the FINEX Foundation reflects a strong institutional commitment to equipping vulnerable sectors with the knowledge and tools needed to adapt and thrive.

Further underscoring this commitment is the Bank’s ₱50 billion LANDBANK Agriculture, Sustainability, Environment, and Socioeconomic Development (ASENSO) Bonds, issued on 16 February 2026. The ASENSO Bonds marked the country’s first corporate bond offering made available for direct in-app purchase via the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App (MBA), democratizing access to investments, particularly in green and social projects nationwide that benefit key sectors while advancing inclusive, climate‑resilient growth. (Landbank)