LANDBANK, TESDA partner to bridge skills-to-enterprise gap, expand livelihood opportunities

ADVANCING SKILLS-TO-ENTERPRISE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FILIPINOS. [First row] LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (center-right) and TESDA Secretary Kiko B. Benitez (center-left) formalize a partnership aimed at helping skilled Filipinos transform their training into sustainable livelihoods and viable enterprises. The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement was witnessed by TESDA Deputy Directors General Atty. Allan Chester B. Nadate (2nd from left) and Nelly Nita N. Dillera (3rd from left), TESDA Assistant Executive Director Redilyn C. Agub (leftmost); and LANDBANK First Vice President Eden B. Japitana (3rd from right), Assistant Vice President Ronaldo R. Averion (2nd from right), and Department Manager Crisso B. Pernito (rightmost).

LANDBANK and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have partnered to help skilled Filipinos transform technical competencies into sustainable livelihoods and viable enterprises through integrated training, financial education, and improved access to financing.

On June 29, 2026 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Manila, LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and TESDA Secretary Kiko B. Benitez formalized the partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), establishing the TESDA–LANDBANK Skills Training and Credit Access Partnership Program.

The program integrates TESDA’s industry-relevant skills and entrepreneurship training with LANDBANK’s financial capability interventions and credit programs. It will also support capacity-building in digitalization, business expansion, and organizational strengthening to help beneficiaries prepare for enterprise growth.

“At LANDBANK, we believe development does not happen in isolation. True progress is built through strong institutions working in alignment, guided by clear direction and a shared vision for equitable growth. With TESDA’s extensive network, we look forward to ensuring that these economic opportunities reach more remote and underserved communities across the country,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz.

TESDA Secretary Benitez highlighted the broader economic impact of the initiative, particularly in generating employment, supporting livelihoods, and improving productivity in the agriculture sector. "This partnership helps us address two things. First is unemployment, as we provide greater financing to more Filipinos. Second is to increase the agricultural yields and productivity among fishers to help address inflationary pressures from food prices. Kapag tinutulungan natin sila makabuo ng puhunan, tinutulungan natin silang itaguyod ang pinapangarap nilang negosyo o livelihood," he said.

Under the partnership, TESDA will endorse qualified graduates and beneficiaries—particularly those with entrepreneurial or agribusiness potential—to LANDBANK for possible financing. This structured referral mechanism is designed to strengthen the credit and investment readiness of aspiring entrepreneurs, farmers, fishers, agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Beneficiaries may be linked to LANDBANK’s flagship lending programs, including the ASCEND, Agrisenso Plus, and LIFTING MSMEs Programs, which support agriculture, fisheries, agrarian reform, and small enterprise development.

The initiative will prioritize underserved and rural communities, with emphasis on helping skilled workers, small business owners, and agri-based entrepreneurs access the resources needed to start, sustain, or expand their livelihood activities.

Earlier this year, LANDBANK and TESDA also partnered to facilitate the digital disbursement of scholarship grants and training support funds to over 335,000 TESDA scholars nationwide, enabling faster, more efficient, and secure delivery of financial assistance.

By aligning technical skills development with financial access, LANDBANK and TESDA aim to empower more Filipinos to build sustainable livelihoods, grow resilient enterprises, and create jobs, in support of the government’s UPLIFT (Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport) agenda to promote inclusive economic growth and drive countryside development. (LBP)