The Land Bank of the Philippines has struck an alliance with the Unified Tiller Agriculture Cooperative (UTAC), a development that strengthens commercial financing in agriculture and bolsters the country’s rice production capacity.
Announced Tuesday, the collaboration positions UTAC as the sixth anchor partner under Land Bank’s AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program, joining other corporate agribusiness players like SariSuki and TAO Foods. While no direct funds will be disbursed, the state-owned lender will provide access to credit and technical support for over 8,000 farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries through UTAC’s endorsement system.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to inclusive rural financing and sustainable agriculture,” said Lynette Ortiz, Land Bank president and CEO, highlighting the role of corporate-cooperative linkages in driving agricultural modernization.
Land Bank will deliver financing and training under its AGRISENSO Plus and ASCEND programs, while UTAC—based in Cagayan, Isabela—will implement regenerative farming protocols and oversee the supply chain from input sourcing to produce marketing.
As of March 2025, Land Bank reported disbursing ₱877.98 million under AGRISENSO Plus, supporting nearly 4,700 borrowers nationwide. The bank remains the country’s largest development finance institution, with operations across all 82 provinces.
