State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) received recognition from the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) for its forest restoration and agricultural financing programs during awards ceremonies in Muscat, Oman.
DBP President and CEO Michael O. de Jesus said the bank was honored for its DBP Forest Program and participation in the Department of Agriculture’s Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid (APP) Program.
“These accolades further inspire us in the DBP and more importantly, affirm the Bank’s efforts to help realize President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s goals, particularly in the areas of food security, financial inclusion, and environmental protection,” de Jesus said.
Forest Program recognition
The DBP Forest Program earned a Merit Award under Corporate Social Responsibility, covering over 50 projects spanning 6,386 hectares nationwide. ADFIAP specifically cited DBP’s Mindanao State University-Buug Forest Project, rehabilitating 100 hectares in Zamboanga Sibugay and benefiting former Moro Islamic Liberation Front members.
“This project has helped improve the lives of former rebels by offering livelihood opportunities towards achieving peace and economic development in Mindanao,” de Jesus said.
Agricultural Finance initiative
The APP Program received a Merit Award for Financial Inclusion. Launched by the Department of Agriculture in 2024, it provides minimum P60,000 credit assistance to farmer-beneficiaries through cooperatives via Intervention Monitoring Cards for farming capital and labor expenses.
As of December 2024, P127 million supported 1,588 farmers across 2,000+ hectares in Nueva Ecija, with expansion planned for 1.3 million hectares in rice-producing provinces.
“DBP assures that it will continue to work with its stakeholders in pushing for initiatives that will enhance the country’s resilience against climate change and enabling our countrymen, particularly our farmers, to enjoy greater access to financial tools and increase their productivity,” de Jesus said.
DBP ranks as the country’s 10th largest bank by assets, focusing on infrastructure, MSMEs, environment, and social services.
