CALOOCAN CITY, July 30 (PIA) -- The Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) is offering a new lending program to finance development and innovative projects of local government units (LGUs) to help rebuild their communities, as the country takes recovery measures.
LandBank has earmarked P10 billion for the RISE UP LGUs Lending Program available for provincial, city and municipal LGUs, the Bank told the PIA-NCR in a statement.
RISE UP LGUs stands for Restoration and Invigoration package for a Self-sufficient Economy towards UPgrowth for LGUs.
The program was virtually launched on Wednesday, July 29, during the regular meeting of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the umbrella organization of all leagues of LGUs and locally elected government officials in the country.
LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo and ULAP National President Government Dakila Carlo E. Cua led the virtual program launch, and participated in by ULAP member-Leagues and officers including, among others, League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) National President Governor Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) National President Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, and League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) National President Mayor Luis C. Singson.
“The ongoing public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vital role of LGUs in managing the effects of unforeseen catastrophes. We hope that the LandBank RISE UP LGUs Program will help them better serve their constituents and communities, while developing a stronger local economy that can withstand future crises,” Borromeo said.
The LandBank RISE UP LGUs Program will be made available to eligible LGUs at a loan amount depending on their project requirements, provided that the total loan exposure (including the proposed loan under the program) should not be more than its Net Borrowing Capacity per Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) computation/certification. The loan shall bear an affordable interest rate of 4.5% per annum fixed for the first year, and subject to annual repricing thereafter based on Bank’s prevailing interest rate
The loan may be used for the purchase of agricultural produce, acquisition of equipment, and construction of facilities for linking of products to the market such as the market infrastructure development and/or improvement, mobile palengke, collection and buying stations, and related facilities.
The LGU may also use the loan to fund programs and projects that will provide its constituents with basic and support services, social welfare and healthcare, and other infrastructure activities that aim to bring back confidence of the people and spur the local economic activities/businesses after a crisis or pandemic.
For permanent working capital, the LandBank RISE UP LGUs Lending Program offers a loan tenor of three years. Meanwhile, tenor for term loan is up to 10 years. A grace period of up to one year on principal payment for both credit facilities may also be granted.
To ensure an extensive information dissemination and coordination for the loan availment of the Lending Program by eligible LGUs, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also virtually signed between LandBank, ULAP, LPP, LCP and LMP during the webinar, which was streamed live over the Facebook pages of ULAP (fb.com/ulap.net.ph) and LandBank (fb.com/landbankofficial).
Interested borrowers may contact the nearest open LandBank Lending Center or Branch nationwide, or call LandBank’s customer service hotline at (02) 8-405-7000 or at PLDT Domestic Toll Free 1-800-10-405-7000. (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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