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Sulong MSME: Empowering Negros Through Partnership and Innovation
- Apr 30
- 4 min read
February 20, 2026, marked a significant milestone for micro, small, and medium enterprises in Negros Occidental as LANDBANK officially launched the Sulong MSME Solution Suite through the vibrant Padayon MSME Fair held at Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City. This event brought together over 500 MSMEs from across the region, demonstrating the urgent need for accessible financing and digital solutions that can transform local enterprises into competitive, sustainable businesses. For us at AGREA Foundation, being part of this initiative represents more than just attendance; it represents our continued commitment to building ecosystems where local enterprises, especially those in agriculture and rural communities, can thrive with dignity and purpose.
The Padayon MSME Fair was led by LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez, whose shared vision for MSME development recognizes that financial inclusion and skills development must go hand in hand. Through the Sulong MSME Solution Suite, LANDBANK is simplifying banking, streamlining payments, and expanding access to growth opportunities for local entrepreneurs who have long faced barriers to formal financial services. The Solution Suite bundles deposit and digital banking services designed to support MSMEs in managing collections, processing supplier payments, and simplifying payroll through LANDBANK's digital channels. For businesses that have struggled with complex banking processes or limited access to credit, this integrated approach removes obstacles and creates pathways to sustainable growth.
We were honored to join this initiative as a partner organization, bringing our expertise in capacity-building and community development to complement LANDBANK's financial solutions. AGREA Foundation, led by our President and CEO Cherrie D. Atilano, has long believed that financial inclusion is essential for smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs, which is why we continue to strengthen our partnership with LANDBANK to bring these critical resources to the communities that need them most. Our role extends beyond advocacy; we provide the training, mentorship, and technical support that MSMEs need to not only access financial services but to use them effectively, build creditworthiness, and scale their operations responsibly. When financial products are paired with capacity-building, the impact multiplies, creating a foundation for long-term success.
The choice of Bacolod City as the launch site for the Sulong MSME Solution Suite is strategic and meaningful. Negros Occidental, known as the sugar capital of the Philippines, is home to countless MSMEs in agriculture, food processing, handicrafts, and services that form the backbone of the local economy. Yet many of these enterprises operate informally or struggle to access the capital and digital tools they need to modernize and compete. By bringing financing and digital solutions closer to Negros MSMEs, LANDBANK is acknowledging that economic development must be inclusive and that growth happens when even the smallest enterprises have the opportunity to succeed. The Padayon MSME Fair served as a strategic platform to introduce these solutions while also creating space for networking, learning, and collaboration among entrepreneurs, government agencies, and development partners.
What makes this initiative particularly powerful is its holistic approach. The Sulong MSME Solution Suite is not just about lending; it is about creating an ecosystem where MSMEs can access everything they need to formalize, digitize, and grow their businesses. From simplified account opening to digital payment systems, from payroll management to supplier payment solutions, the suite addresses the real, practical challenges that small business owners face every day. When combined with LANDBANK's LIFTING program and other lending initiatives, MSMEs gain access to both the capital and the operational tools they need to thrive. This comprehensive support system recognizes that entrepreneurship is complex, and success requires more than just a loan; it requires ongoing support, accessible technology, and partnerships that extend beyond transactions.
As we reflect on this event, we are reminded that empowering MSMEs is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty, create jobs, and build resilient local economies. When a small farmer can access credit to expand production, when a women's cooperative can digitize its payments and reach new markets, when a youth-led enterprise can manage cash flow more efficiently, the impact ripples through entire communities. This is why we remain committed to working with LANDBANK, TESDA, and other partners to ensure that MSMEs in Negros Occidental and beyond have the resources, training, and support they need to succeed. The Padayon MSME Fair was not an endpoint; it was a beginning, a commitment to walk alongside local entrepreneurs as they build businesses that sustain families, strengthen communities, and contribute to national development.
To the over 500 MSMEs who attended the fair: we see your potential, we believe in your dreams, and we are committed to supporting your journey. To LANDBANK for pioneering the Sulong MSME Solution Suite and for recognizing AGREA as a valued partner: thank you for your leadership in financial inclusion and for creating solutions that truly serve the needs of local enterprises. To TESDA and all our partner organizations: together, we are building an ecosystem where entrepreneurship is accessible, where innovation is encouraged, and where success is shared. Sulong MSME. Padayon. Asenso. Forward we move, powered by LANDBANK and united by a shared vision of inclusive, sustainable economic growth.
