Bank of Commerce, LandBank tie up for OFW remittance service

In photo at the MOA signing are (L-R): Bank of Commerce Operations Group Heed and EVP Carmelita R. Araneta, LandBank Branch Banking Sector Head and EVP Jocelyn dG. Cabreza, and Bank of Commerce International operations Divisions Head and FVP Alfredo L. Ayson

Bank of Commerce, LandBank tie up for OFW remittance service. bank of Commerce recently signed a partnership with Land Bank of The Philippines to allow overseas Filipino workers to send monet to their familis through the overseas remittance partners and correspondents of both banks.

Through direct electronic system integration, OFWs are assured that their remittances will be credited immediately to their bank of Commerce or LandBank account and may encashed at any branch of both banks.

LANDBANK bags 2014 ARTA Breakthrough Agency Award

LANDBANK Corporate Services Sector EVP Julio D. Climaco, Jr. receives the 2014 ARTA Breakthrough Agency Award from CSC Chairman Francisco Duque III, Commissioner Robert Martinez and Commissioner Nieves Osorio
LANDBANK was recently awarded the 2014 Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) Breakthrough Agency Award during the ARTA recognition rites in Luxent Hotel, Quezon City last October 22.

With the theme “Celebrating Excellence in Public Frontline Service”, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) conferred the award to LANDBANK for quality customer service in compliance to the provisions of the ARTA at the forefront, and for obtaining a 99% rating in the ARTA Report Card Survey.

The ARTA-RCS measures an agency’s performance and client satisfaction in relation to frontline service. It also intends to obtain feedback on how agencies follow provisions in their Citizen’s Charter. The survey was conducted in 100 LANDBANK branches nationwide from June to November 2013 wherein 38 branches where rated as “excellent”.

“We empower our employees to uphold the core values that define our institution to be the bank of choice as we continue to improve to meet the challenges of providing excellent service to our customers,” said LANDBANK Corporate Services Sector Executive Vice President Julio Climaco Jr., who received the award in behalf of the Bank.

The other government agencies that were awarded the 2014 ARTA Breakthrough Agency Award are the Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Health Insurance Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, and Public Attorney’s Office.

LANDBANK bags 2014 ARTA Breakthrough Agency Award

LANDBANK Corporate Services Sector EVP Julio D. Climaco, Jr. receives the 2014 ARTA Breakthrough Agency Award from CSC Chairman Francisco Duque III, Commissioner Robert Martinez and Commissioner Nieves Osorio
LANDBANK was recently awarded the 2014 Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) Breakthrough Agency Award during the ARTA recognition rites in Luxent Hotel, Quezon City last October 22.

With the theme “Celebrating Excellence in Public Frontline Service”, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) conferred the award to LANDBANK for quality customer service in compliance to the provisions of the ARTA at the forefront, and for obtaining a 99% rating in the ARTA Report Card Survey.

The ARTA-RCS measures an agency’s performance and client satisfaction in relation to frontline service. It also intends to obtain feedback on how agencies follow provisions in their Citizen’s Charter. The survey was conducted in 100 LANDBANK branches nationwide from June to November 2013 wherein 38 branches where rated as “excellent”.

“We empower our employees to uphold the core values that define our institution to be the bank of choice as we continue to improve to meet the challenges of providing excellent service to our customers,” said LANDBANK Corporate Services Sector Executive Vice President Julio Climaco Jr., who received the award in behalf of the Bank.

The other government agencies that were awarded the 2014 ARTA Breakthrough Agency Award are the Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Health Insurance Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, and Public Attorney’s Office.

LANDBANK President and CEO bags APEA 2014 Outstanding Entrepreneur Award

LANDBANK President and CEO Gilda E. Pico receives her award from Enterprise Asia President Dato William Ng and Enterprise Asia Chairman Tan Sri Dr. Fong Chan Onn during the APEA 2014 Awarding Ceremony held at Dusit Thani Hotel, Manila

LANDBANK President and CEO Gilda E. Pico joins the roster of the country’s finest business leaders with her recent conferment of the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA), Asia’s most coveted award for entrepreneurs.

Pico’s solid commitment for development has steered LANDBANK to consistently demonstrate continual growth in the areas of developmental banking, increasing the Bank’s loan portfolio from P143 billion in 2005 when she first assumed her post as Acting President of LANDBANK to P303.9 billion in 2013; adopting technological solutions for operations; doubling total ATM count from 608 to 1,315 to date; and establishing LANDBANK presence in all 81 provinces in the country; among others.

“The esteemed award not only recognizes our efforts in leading one of the country’s top universal banks but a motivation for us to pursue development programs that contribute to the country’s economic growth,” said Pico.

APEA’s Outstanding Category Award is given to outstanding leaders who have greatly contributed to the growth of their respective businesses and organizations.

APEA’s tough judging structure incorporates a pre-screening process of research and analysis, compulsory site visits and market audits and series of interviews for each of the shortlisted candidates.

Since its official launch in 2007, APEA has already recognized 1,200 top business leaders and entrepreneurs in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Hong Kong, India and China. The award provides a platform for companies and governments to recognize entrepreneurial excellence, hence spurring greater innovation, fair business practices and growth in entrepreneurship.

This year’s international advisory panel included Senator Paulo Benigno Aquino IV, Former Minister of Human Resources of Malaysia Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr. Fong Chan Onn, Former Chairman of Tourism Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee, and Secretary General of World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation Tan Sri Ahmad Fuzi Haji Abdul Razak.

LANDBANK’s Environmental Due Diligence System is Official Entry for International Best Practices Competition

Photo shows LANDBANK Agricultural and Development Lending Sector Head EVP Cecilia Borromeo (4th from left) accepting the Philippine Best Practices award from DAP Senior Vice President for Support Operations Bernardo Dizon (5th from left) during the 26th National Quality Forum held in Makati City.  With them are (L-R):  LANDBANK Environmental Program and Management Department Head Prudencio Callado III, LANDBANK Strategic Planning Group Head SVP Liduvino Geron, LANDBANK Lending Program Management Group Head FVP  Leila Martin, PSQ Board of Trustee/Professional Development & Training Lead Noly Cayabyab, and President of PSQ Board of Trustees Angelica Fraginal.

LANDBANK’s environmental due diligence (EDD) on its financed projects is the Philippines’ official entry to the 3rd International Best Practices Competition (public sector category) of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce in November 2014 . This is the first time that the Philippines will be sending entries to this prestigious competition participated in by several other institutions from different countries.

The International Best Practices Competition is organized by the Global Benchmarking Network, a global network of organizations and experts focused on promoting and facilitating the use of benchmarking.

LANDBANK’s entry won in the 1st Philippine Best Practice and Benchmarking Competition (for private and public sectors) held last October 24 at Shangri-La Hotel, Makati City. The competition was spearheaded by the Philippine Society for Quality, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Development Academy of the Philippines.

LANDBANK’s EDD System is a comprehensive process of evaluating compliance of Bank-financed projects to Philippine environmental laws and regulations. It is imbedded in LANDBANK’s credit delivery starting from loan packaging to loan payment. The EDD System helps LANDBANK clients mitigate risks associated with possible imposition of penalties or closure due to environment-related violations.

It was initially implemented in 1994 as part of the Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework for World Bank-financed projects. Normally, banks implement EDD on a selective basis specifically for projects financed under their special/ Official Development Assistance (ODA) program. But for LANDBANK, it covers 100 percent of all its financed projects regardless of cost. All of LANDBANK’s 35 Provincial Lending Centers nationwide and 6 Head Office-based Lending Units implement EDD, with technical support for environmental assessment of projects through the Bank’s Environmental Program and Management Department.

Under LANDBANK’s EDD, an Environmental Report for each project is prepared which contains the following: evaluation of impact and recommendation of mitigating activities to reduce impact of their operations to the environment, determination of the environmental risk rating of each project, evaluation of continuing compliance with environmental laws and regulations, and determination of the environmental benefits such as eligibility of projects for inclusion under the Clean Development Mechanism.

From 2004 to 2013, LANDBANK has evaluated a total of 3,360 projects nationwide. To date, there are no reports on LANDBANK-financed project closure due to violations on environmental requirements.