LANDBANK, UP expand partnership in education, digital finance, student support

LANDBANK and the University of the Philippines (UP) are strengthening their partnership to expand opportunities for students throughout their academic journey through financial assistance, transportation support, digital banking services, and career development opportunities that address the evolving needs of students and the broader UP community.

At the core of the partnership is the employee-funded LANDBANK Lingap-Iskolar Program, through which 10 qualified UP students from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) will each receive ₱160,000 in annual financial assistance beginning Academic Year 2026–2027. Beneficiaries must have passed the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) and be enrolled in agriculture-related, finance, or information technology courses at UP constituent universities nationwide.

The partnership also extends support to the UP faculty, with LANDBANK providing a grant for professional office chairs for members of the academic community.

LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and UP President Angelo A. Jimenez formalized the partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on 14 September 2026 at UP Diliman in Quezon City. They were joined by LANDBANK Senior Vice President Catherine Rowena B. Villanueva, UP Director Tristan Nathaniel C. Ramos, among other LANDBANK and UP officers.

“Education is a powerful means of breaking barriers and opening opportunities. Through this partnership, we aim to help talented young Filipinos, regardless of where they come from, pursue their aspirations and use their skills and ideas to contribute to national development,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz.

UP President Jimenez highlighted the Program’s role in helping students from GIDAs access and complete their education. “The Lingap-Iskolar Program is the kind of support that can make a difference between a student simply being offered a place in UP and a student actually being able to accept that opportunity, pursue a degree, and complete it,” he said.

Beyond financial assistance, scholars will receive support for their academic and professional development. Upon graduation, qualified scholars may be considered for employment at LANDBANK, its subsidiaries, and the LANDBANK Countryside Development Foundation, Inc. The partnership also covers job fairs and graduate referrals to connect scholars with career opportunities.

Complementing the scholarship assistance is the LANDBANK Libreng Sakay Program, which provides transportation support to UPCAT examinees from GIDAs. The initiative recently earned a Merit Award at the Philippine Quill Awards for helping expand access to UP education for students from underserved communities.

The partnership also promotes greater access to digital financial services through the LANDBANK Cash-Lite Campus Program. Rolled out across UP campuses, the Program enables students, faculty, and other members of the university community to make payments and access financial services digitally.

The program promotes the use of the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App (MBA) and the LANDBANK PISO Plus Account, which users can open through the app with no initial deposit or maintaining balance required. UP campuses may also use LANDBANK’s Link.BizPortal to facilitate the online payment of tuition and other school fees, offering students and their families an additional payment channel.

The strengthened partnership opens new avenues for collaboration, including initiatives that support sustainable transport, community development, livelihood generation, and wider access to financial services.

Together, these initiatives underscore the shared commitment of LANDBANK and UP to create more opportunities for students, communities, and other stakeholders through accessible financial services, sustainable development initiatives, and innovation-driven programs.