MANILA, Philippines - The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have tapped GCash Remit, the domestic cash pick-up service of Globe Telecom, for the pilot implementation of the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer program (CCT) in far-flung areas in Balabac and Taytay Palawan, and Burdeos, Quezon.
Last month, the LBP, DSWD, and Globe through its wholly-owned mobile commerce subsidiary G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), went to Balabac and Taytay in Palawan, and Burdeos in Quezon to pilot-run the disbursement of CCT cash grants to around 10,000 beneficiaries using GCash Remit.
The CCT cash grants are given to poor families by the LBP, either as over-the-counter payment, cash cards (ATMs) or through off-site payments. However, for far-flung areas like Balabac, Taytay, and Burdeos, the government financial institution has tapped the use of GCash Remit to distribute the CCTs.
“By utilizing GCash Remit, families in remote villages don’t have to shell out money to travel just to get their monthly CCT cash grants, Ernest Cu, Globe president and chief executive officer, said.
He added that by partnering in this program, Globe is able to serve those living in far-flung areas that traditional financial services cannot reach.
The CCT program, also known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), is a vital component of the government’s poverty alleviation agenda. 4Ps aims to help the country’s poorest families by providing cash assistance in order to allow family members to get health, nutrition and education provided they comply with certain conditions like attending school, regular health check-ups, and vaccinations.
GCash Remit will also be used to disburse cash grants in the following areas: Albay, Aklan, Aurora, Cebu, Iloilo, Lanao del Norte, Masbate, Sarangani, Sorsogon and others.