Insider Spotlight
The initiative is being implemented through JGF’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP), which connects smallholder farmers to institutional markets while providing access to financing tailored to the realities of farm production.
Many farmers continue to struggle with limited access to formal credit, restricting their ability to invest in quality inputs, equipment, and technologies that can improve yields and profitability.
The big picture
Under BanKo’s Farmer Financing Program, qualified farmers can obtain funding for seeds, fertilizers, equipment, land preparation, and harvesting activities.
By pairing market access with timely financing, the program helps farmers expand production, meet quality standards, and supply stable buyers such as the Jollibee Group.
Eligible borrowers must be Filipino farmers aged 23 to 67 upon loan maturity, own a mobile phone, maintain a clean credit record, and belong to a cooperative or association that has supplied the Jollibee Group for at least two consecutive years.
According to a company release, the partnership has already supported more than 200 farmers, with total loan releases reaching P24.8 million across key agricultural areas including San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, and Candon, Ilocos Sur.
Why it matters
“Through this initiative with Jollibee Group Foundation, we continue to strengthen our commitment to supporting Filipino farmers by providing accessible and sustainable financing solutions tailored to their needs,” BanKo president Rod Mabiasen Jr. said.
The financing program was designed specifically for onion farmers supplying the Jollibee Group. It offers competitive interest rates and repayment schedules aligned with crop production cycles, allowing farmers to harvest and sell their produce before loans mature.
BanKo also provides streamlined loan processing to ensure funds are available in time for planting seasons.
“We believe that empowering farmers with timely access to capital not only helps improve productivity and livelihoods, but also contributes to building a more resilient agricultural sector and stronger local food security,” Mabiasen said.
The initiative seeks to address a longstanding financing gap in Philippine agriculture, where many smallholder farmers remain unbanked or underfinanced and often depend on informal lenders charging higher borrowing costs.
What's next
“At Jollibee Group Foundation, we are committed to helping smallholder farmers become more productive and financially sustainable by connecting them to institutional markets and essential support services,” Jollibee Group Foundation president Gisela Tiongson said.
“Working with BanKo strengthens this mission by helping farmers gain access to affordable financing that enables them to invest in their farms and improve their livelihoods. Together, we hope to create more opportunities for Filipino smallholder farmers and contribute to a stronger and more inclusive agricultural value chain,” Tiongson added. Looking ahead, BanKo and JGF plan to bring more farmers into the program across additional provinces while expanding credit support to other high-value crops, including bell peppers.
The collaboration reflects the shared goal of both organizations to strengthen local food security, improve rural livelihoods, and build a more resilient agricultural sector. — Princess Daisy C. Ominga| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
