LBP to install 8 ATMs in Sarangani towns

By Catherine T. Apelacio

Tuesday 22nd of May 2012

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, May 22 (PIA) -- At least eight additional automated teller machines (ATMs) will be installed in Sarangani by the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) as part of its expansion to give better service to its clients at the countryside.

According to LBP Alabel Branch, one ATM will be established in each of the towns of Glan, Malapatan, and Alabel aside from the two ATMs already operational inside the Provincial Capitol Compound where the branch office is housed.

LBP GenSan, on the other hand, will install the ATMs in Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum, and Malungon.

Edna Viray of LBP Alabel Branch told PIA General Santos City that the ATMs for Glan, Malapatan, and Alabel are now available and ready for installation.

But she said, “We are still waiting for the go signal of the mayors,” before the ATMs can be installed.

Viray confirmed that a letter informing the mayors about the availability of the ATMs and Land Bank’s readiness to install the units at specified location had already been sent two weeks ago yet.

Meanwhile, ATMs for the other towns have also arrived and ready for installation, according to LBP-GenSan.

In March this year, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was forged between and among the provincial government of Sarangani, the seven town mayors, the rural bank of Kiamba and the LBP represented by its president and chief executive officer Gilda Pico.

The MOA signing was synchronized with the blessing and inauguration of the new building of LBP Alabel branch as it transferred to a spacious building within the capitol compound.

“These ATMs will also service the conditional cash transfer (CCT) beneficiaries because as you all know Land Bank is the servicing bank of all conditional cash transfers of government,” Pico said.

“In Sarangani, we have a total 25,000 CCT beneficiaries and in 2011 we paid P80 million for these system beneficiaries,” she added.

According to Viray, the rural bank of Kiamba will serve as “conduit” of LBP once the ATM will be installed in the town of Kiamba.

Ma. Eleanor Corpuz, LBP Alabel branch head, said the ATMs will be a great help to the constituents of Sarangani especially those who are beneficiaries of CCT living in far-flung areas.

Commending LBP’s operation in Sarangani over the last 15 years, Gov. Migs Dominguez said the expansion of lank bank, “reflects not only the growth of our municipalities and province but most of all the growth of the private sector.”

The governor acknowledged land bank’s key role especially in financing and lending to help develop and improve the stature of agricultural sector in the province.

Land bank, the fourth largest bank in the country and the largest government bank has a progressive total resource of P638 billion with P507 billion deposits; P150 billion loans provided and a capital of P72 billion. (CTA-PIA 12, General Santos City)