AS PART of measures to help communities bounce back from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the national government, through state-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), is providing an interest rate subsidy of two percent per annum on new and existing loans of local government units (LGUs) for their response and recovery intervention projects for their constituents.
The interest subsidy forms part of the provisions of Republic Act No. 11494 otherwise known as the “Bayanihan to Recover as One (BARO) Act” or “Bayanihan 2,” in which LANDBANK has been allotted a P1-billion interest subsidy fund by the national government for loans secured by LGUs.
The relief shall be applied to loan interest payments of municipal, city and provincial LGUs until Dec. 31, 2022, or until the interest subsidy fund is fully utilized.
To extend the interest rate subsidy to as many LGUs as possible, a maximum interest subsidy equivalent to P10 million has been set for cities and provinces, and P5 million for municipalities.
“We strongly encourage our LGUs to make full use of credit facilities subsidized by the national government to bankroll development projects in their respective localities. This will contribute greatly to reviving local economies and helping the country recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo.
Qualified LGUs may avail of the loan interest subsidy for eligible projects pursuant to the objectives of the BARO Act. These include, but are not limited to, permanent working capital such as for the purchase of agricultural produce, acquisition of equipment, construction of facilities for linking of products to the market such as market infrastructure development and improvement, mobile palengke, collection and buying stations, and other related facilities.
LGUs with loans for programs and projects that provide 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 economy and businesses are also eligible to avail of the interest subsidy.
The loan for these projects shall bear a fixed interest rate of four percent per annum until the end of 2022, wherein the remaining two-percent interest rate shall be charged to the LGU. Interest rate shall be subject to annual repricing thereafter based on benchmark rate plus applicable credit spread based on credit rating of the borrower, but shall not be lower than four percent per annum.
Borrowers may pay their loan up to 15 years inclusive of up to three years grace period on principal payable based on cash flow.
The interest rate subsidy will be made available to LGUs with approved accounts under LANDBANK’s RISE UP LGUs (Restoration and Invigoration package for a Self-sufficient Economy towards UPgrowth for LGUs) Lending Program which was launched last July, to support LGUs in the implementation of their local economic recovery plans.
As of Nov. 30, 2020, LANDBANK has approved loans to 156 LGUs amounting to P52.27 billion under the RISE UP LGUs Lending Program. Of this amount, P383.5 million has been released to three LGUs.
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./PN
