TESDA taps GCash as fintech partner

MANILA, Philippines — Mobile wallet GCash has been selected by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to distribute training subsidies to its scholars.

TESDA now adds to the growing list of agencies and local government units (LGUs) that have tapped the platform to enable contactless transactions during the pandemic.

“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 CEO Martha Sazon said.

TESDA’s adoption of GCash is aimed at achieving further efficiency as assistance distribution will be remitted digitally.

Through its platform and the partnership,  TESDA scholars would be saved from the trouble of going to field offices or claim centers to receive funds.

Under the agreement, scholars will receive up to P160 per training day from the agency through GCash.

Qualified beneficiaries will need to download the GCash app on their smartphones and coordinate with authorized TESDA representatives to receive their training subsidy.

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña said the agency has been looking for ways of continuing to serve its 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.

GCash has also been tapped by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and LGUs such as Makati and Quezon City to distribute social assistance programs to qualified beneficiaries and constituents.

To date, the mobile wallet company has already distributed over P16 billion in financial assistance to more than two million Filipinos nationwide.

“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,” Sazon said.

“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,” she said.