GCash collaborates with LGUs, MSMEs to advance digital financial inclusion

MANILA, Philippines — In pursuing digital financial inclusion, the Philippines' leading finance app and largest cashless ecosystem GCash recognizes the transformative impact of collaboration across various sectors in society.

As an instrumental force in the country's financial inclusion efforts, GCash has been working with the government, communities and businesses in advancing its vision of Finance For All.

As many of the previously unbanked and underbanked gain access to formal financial services (rising from 29% pre-pandemic to 65% in 2022), GCash continues to promote digital financial inclusion to more sectors.

Among them include micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMES), wet markets vendors, sari-sari store owners, tricycle drivers, farmers and fisherfolk who can transact digitally, through strong partnerships with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and local government units.

One of the ways GCash has accelerated progress in its push towards financial inclusion is through DigiCities, a collaborative effort of public and private sectors in building a complete digital ecosystem in local government units.

Launched this year, DigiCities has been adopted in 27 key cities across the Philippines.

Some initiatives under DigiCities include:

Among the cities that were onboarded with the DigiCities program include Quezon City, Manila, Makati, Pasig, Caloocan, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Antipolo, Baguio, San Fernando (Pampanga), Bacoor, Sta. Rosa, Dasmariñas, Lipa, Imus, Cabanatuan, Cebu Tri-city (Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City) Iloilo, Bacolod, Tagbilaran, Victorias, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Kidapawan and General Santos City.

Of the 27 cities, three are set to be recognized at the GCash Digital Excellence Awards (GDEA), as well as five businesses that participated in the DigiCities program.

The GCash Digital Excellence Awards (GDEA) celebrates the successes of various local government units, national government agencies and MSMEs in their digital transformation journey, motivating the public and private sectors to continue innovating for a more inclusive financial society.

Held annually since 2020, this year’s GDEA is set to honor 31 awardees and seven partner