Strengthening Agricultural Communities

(Left) BanKo and Agrilever hope to help more farmers by enhancing their agricultural practices and providing affordable financial solutions; (right) at the launch of the partnership are (seated, from left) BPI President and CEO TG Limcaoco, BanKo Chairman Jojo Ocampo, BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen, together with (standing, from left) DA Director Junibert De Sagun, Agrilever President Ruel Amparo, Board Chairman Yoav Schwalb, and Advisory Board Chairman Arthur Yap, BanKo President Rod Mabiasen, BPI Institutional Banking Head John-C Syquia, and BPI Capital President Junie Veloso

Going beyond financial aid, we also provide a platform for knowledge, innovation, and sustainable growth. We see farmers not as our clients, but as vital partners.

JOJO OCAMPO
BanKo Chairman

A collaborative initiative between BanKo, the financial inclusion and microfinance arm of Bank of the Philippine Islands, and agritech company Agrilever is seeking to empower farmers and strengthen agricultural communities by providing them with loans, financial education, and access to technology.

The Agri NegosyoKo Loan Program offers customized loans from P50,000 to P300,000. Farmers participating in the program will also benefit from financial education, protection and security, personal engagement and community involvement, a streamlined application process, and incentives for responsible behavior. They will also be able to access technologies to increase crop yields and methods to efficiently manage production costs.

Agrilever seeks to promote sustainability and social equity in the agricultural sector by providing farmers with digital agronomy services, market access, flexible financing, crop insurance, and weather systems. Its app guides farmers on optimal times for planting, harvesting, and applying pesticides and fertilizers.

BanKo has been recognized for its innovative approach to supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with a Change Maker Award at 2024 Universal Achievement Awards. Last year, it released over P14.96 billion in business loans to more than 200,000 clients, and expanded its reach by opening new branch-lite units across the country.