Quick Read
- Land Bank of the Philippines launched its first Cash-Lite Campus Program in Visayas in February 2026.
- Metro Dumaguete College (MDC) is the first higher education institution in the region to adopt the program.
- The initiative minimizes cash dependency by integrating digital payment solutions for students, staff, and local vendors.
- Land Bank President Lynette Ortiz and MDC President Delma Manila led the program launch.
- The LANDBANK PISO Plus account, with no initial deposit or minimum balance, is central to the program’s accessibility.
DUMAGUETE CITY (Azat TV) – The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) officially launched its inaugural Cash-Lite Campus Program in the Visayas region in February, selecting Metro Dumaguete College (MDC) in Negros Oriental as its first partner. This pioneering initiative aims to significantly reduce cash dependency by integrating digital payment solutions across the campus and into the wider community, fostering financial wellness among students and staff.
The program, spearheaded by Land Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Lynette Ortiz and MDC President Delma Manila, marks a crucial step in the bank’s broader mission to advance financial inclusivity and accelerate digital transactions nationwide. By transforming MDC into the first higher education institution (HEI) in the Visayas to embrace a cash-lite ecosystem, LBP is preparing the younger generation for a digitally-driven and financially disciplined future.
Boosting Financial Inclusivity with Landbank
The Cash-Lite Campus program is designed to equip more than 2,500 students across senior high, undergraduate, and diploma programs at MDC, along with all teaching and non-teaching personnel and campus partners, with their own bank accounts. This move is central to Land Bank’s strategy to make formal banking services more accessible, particularly for students and first-time account holders.
President Ortiz emphasized that the initiative represents a bold stride in strengthening the cash-lite ecosystem across the Philippines. It empowers individuals to manage their finances safely and conveniently, shifting away from traditional cash-based transactions. The program’s expansion beyond the campus gates, to include local food vendors, merchants, and transport service providers, ensures a comprehensive digital payment environment.
Digital Transformation for MDC Students
A key component of this initiative is the integration of digital payment channels, notably the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App (MBA), into MDC’s daily operations. This digital ecosystem simplifies college life by enabling convenient and secure settlement of everyday financial transactions, from purchasing meals and school supplies to handling other routine expenses.
Furthermore, the LANDBANK Link.BizPortal, the bank’s online payment facility, allows for the online payment of tuition, miscellaneous fees, and other school charges. This streamlines campus payments, effectively eliminating the need for over-the-counter transactions and reducing administrative burdens for both the college and its students’ families. MDC President Manila underscored the partnership’s significance in fostering a financially smart, technologically ready, and socially responsible campus environment.
Accessible Banking with LANDBANK PISO Plus
Central to the program’s accessibility is the LANDBANK PISO Plus account. This innovative offering can be opened directly through the mobile app without requiring an initial deposit or maintaining a minimum balance. This feature significantly lowers the barrier to entry for formal banking, making it easier for students and individuals new to banking to manage their finances.
President Manila highlighted the broader impact of this cash-lite approach, stating that it removes ‘small but heavy burdens from parents and families.’ By simplifying transactions and reducing financial worries, the initiative allows students to concentrate more on their learning and future development. The partnership between Land Bank and MDC is thus creating new opportunities for the entire academic community, building a future that is both financially astute and technologically advanced. The successful launch of the Cash-Lite Campus Program in Visayas signals a significant regional acceleration of digital finance, potentially setting a benchmark for other educational institutions and local economies to follow across the Philippines.