The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority said over the weekend it tapped the GCash mobile wallet to distribute training subsidies to scholars nationwide.
Scholars under the agreement will receive a support fund of up to P160 per training day from the agency through GCash.
The adoption of GCash aims to achieve efficiency during the pandemic as assistance distribution would be remitted digitally, sparing the students from the trouble of going to field offices or claim centers to receive funds.
The shift to cashless also allows for contactless transactions, mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on its employees and students, amid the implementation of the general community quarantine.
“GCash has been actively supporting the government in delivering much-needed support to Filipinos since the onset of the pandemic. We understand that fintech plays a key role in carrying out social assistance programs faster and safer, especially now that we are still figuring out how to transition back to normalcy,” GCash president and chief executive Martha Sazon said.
TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña said the agency was looking for ways of continuing to serve clients without exposing them to COVID-19.
“At the early stages of the pandemic, I have already instructed our Regional Operations Management Office to find a safe and effective way on how we can distribute training support fund to our scholars in this pandemic. Now that we have this partnership with GCash, this can really help our kababayans, especially the ones who are in the far-flung areas,” Lapeña said.
With GCQ still in full swing, both private businesses and government entities alike were looking for ways to make cash distribution frictionless and most relied on mobile money for transactions.
GCash was also tapped by the Department of Social Welfare of Development and local government units such as Makati and Quezon City to distribute SAP and other social assistance programs to qualified beneficiaries and constituents.
The mobile wallet company distributed over P16 billion to more than two million Filipinos nationwide in financial assistance.
“Fintech is not a trend; it’s here to stay to continue supporting the financial lifestyle of Filipino consumers and businesses under the new normal. Aside from offering a layer of safety against the pandemic, it also empowers users a more practical and convenient approach of managing their finances. GCash serves as a one-stop shop in receiving money, paying bills, transacting online, and even sending money to inaanaks and pamangkins this holiday season,” Sazon said.