Digital financial inclusion trailblazers awarded at 4th GCash Digital Excellence Awards
In its commitment to champion digital financial inclusion, GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance super app and largest cashless ecosystem, celebrated its partners from the public and private sectors for driving digital literacy and financial empowerment during the 2024 GCash Digital Excellence Awards (GDEA). Now in its fourth year, the prestigious event continues to honor the significant contributions of both the private and public sectors in advancing financial inclusion and digital transformation. Through the event, the collaborators celebrate their achievements and collective progress toward a more inclusive and digitally empowered future.
The annual recognition program, a flagship event of GCash and the first of its kind in the industry aims to acknowledge the exceptional achievements of local government units (LGUs), government organizations, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) working toward closing the financial gap in the Philippines by giving underserved communities access to essential financial services.
This year’s ceremony, held on December 4, 2024, in Conrad Manila, gathered esteemed government officials including Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Emilio Aquino, Commissioner McJill Bryant Fernandez, Atty. Paolo Ong, Officer-in-Charge of the PhiliFintech Innovation Office, House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries Congressman Irwin C. Tieng, Committee Secretary Atty. Dodie Baldueza, Department of Finance (DOF), Bacolod City Councilor Celia Flor, Cotabato City Internal Auditor Atty. Amira Pagayao, Imus City Supervising Administrative Officer Jonathan Campat and Treasurer Manuel Reynold Dela Fuente, Councilor Anabeth Cuizon and Congresswoman Cindy K. Chan, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay-Campos, Quezon City Administrator Michael Alimurung, Tagbilaran Mayor Jane Yap, and Victorias City Vice Mayor Hon. Abelardo Bantug III and City Administrator Atty. Lindolf De Castro.
Joining GCash on its mission of “Finance for All,” the sector partners were recognized for improving access to financial services in 2024, as they pledged to continue innovating their digital services to uplift the Filipino people and promote inclusion.
In addition, the GDEA Awards acknowledged the growing number of government agency partners– including regulatory and national government agencies, and law enforcement– helping to strengthen the Philippines’ digital ecosystem, such as the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC); the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions, and Currencies; the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries; the Department of Finance; the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group; the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center; and National Bureau of Investigation.
“This celebration is a collective effort in a transformative program that [brings] us closer to our vision of ‘Finance for All’,” said Cathlyn Pavia, head of strategy of GCash for Business. “From our humble beginning in 2021, our joint programs and achievements have grown. So this is truly a testament to everything we have achieved together to help build digitally inclusive cities where technology seamlessly weaves into the fabric of everyday life.”
This year, GDEA granted 31 awards spanning eight categories. It began with the Advocate for Digital Empowerment Award, which recognizes outstanding public, private, and special initiatives that facilitate digital financial inclusion for Filipinos. This honor was granted to eight organizations including the Anti-Red Tape Authority, the Government Procurement Policy Board – Technical Support Office, the Commission on Audit, the Department of Finance’s Bureau of Local Government Finance, and the National Privacy Commission. The other four winners were TikTok Shop, Start-Up Village (SUV), USAID, and Canva, who were recognized for supporting MSME growth through workshops that equip business owners with the skills to boost efficiency, grow their market presence, build customer loyalty, and leverage online platforms to drive business growth.
The next accolade, the Digital Breakthrough Growth Award, was given to the country’s top-performing government units that showed an unwavering commitment to embracing digitalization in 2024. The winners were San Juan in La Union, Cotabato City in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). All succeeded in increasing the rate of digital collection in both government and commercial establishments.
Meanwhile, the Excellence in Digital Public Service Award was presented to Imus City, Cavite, and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). The two awardees served as model institutions for sustainable growth, having consistently increased their volume of digital transactions between 2022 and 2024 through effective awareness, education, and promotional strategies.
For championing innovation that drives digital literacy and financial empowerment, the Leader in Sustainable Financial Digitalization Award was given to five government bodies: Makati City, Quezon City, Tagbilaran City, Pag-IBIG, and the Maritime Industry Authority. Recognized for raising the industry standard for innovative public service, the awardees were lauded for their programs leveraging digital financial solutions to serve their constituents.
Applauding the seamless fintech integration into commercial spaces such as public markets, the 2024 GDEA presented its Palengke Excellence in Digital Transformation Award to the top-performing public markets that have successfully pushed for the adoption of digital transactions among their vendors and customers. The awardees included the San Fernando Market in Pampanga, Burgos Public Market in Bacolod City, Carmen Public Market in Cagayan de Oro, and New Marulas Public Market in Valenzuela City.
As the GCash Digital Excellence Awards honored the key LGU partners and MSMEs that have actively supported and contributed to its efforts in advancing digital adoption and inclusion, it went on to name the top three DigiCities LGUs for 2024. The coveted title is tied to the DigiCities Program, a pioneering initiative of GCash and a collaborative effort with LGUs that aims to transform key cities into digitally inclusive hubs by promoting the widespread adoption of digital payments through GCash.
Of the 27 participating cities in the program’s pilot phase, three made exceptional strides in pushing for digital payment adoption across all segments while focusing on scalable solutions that enhance public service, drive financial inclusion, and foster social equity. The first-place title was given to Victorias City, while Lapu-Lapu City came in second, and the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, in third.
“In 2025, we aim to scale [our GCash DigiCities Program] further by partnering with more provincial and local governments to push the widespread adoption of digital payments and diversify financial transactions,” concluded Cathlyn Pavia. “Guided by the same aspirations and vision for both public and private sectors, our joint goal is to build more future-ready digital cities, where technology seamlessly weaves into the fabric of everyday life.” – Rappler.com
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