Rice sector modernization gets boost from new LANDBANK–DA financing facility

To accelerate digital transformation and improve rice farmers’ productivity, LANDBANK and the Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) have launched a specialized financing facility that combines accessible credit with modern digital tools for palay production.

The Agri-Negosyo Loan Program–Palay Yield Enhancement Financing Facility (ANYO-Palay) is designed to help small rice farmers adopt practical technologies that can raise yields, better manage risks, and improve overall farm efficiency.

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

The program was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and ACPC Executive Director Rallen O. Verdadero on 14 May 2026 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Malate, Manila, 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 two percent (2%) per annum to small rice farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), making modern farming solutions more affordable and accessible across the country.

“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 a maximum of three hectares, and up to ₱25,000 for digital farming tools and technologies. The facility will be available nationwide until 31 December 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 Satelite Solutions Inc, likewise emphasized the value of farming modernization, stating, “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.”

The initiative forms part of LANDBANK’s broader push to expand support for the agriculture sector through responsive and inclusive financing. As of March 2026, the Bank’s loans to agriculture, fisheries, and rural development reached ₱908.77 billion, accounting for more than 58% of its total loan portfolio.

LANDBANK and ACPC remain committed to advancing technology-driven and inclusive agriculture by scaling up access to affordable financing and supporting the adoption of digital solutions that enhance productivity, efficiency, and resilience in rice farming communities.