PRESS RELEASE
March 18, 2025
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian urged Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries to fully utilize the benefits of the country’s digital financial system through their new smart phones donated by Globe Telecom; and G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), the operator of GCash.
“Sa pamamagitan ng mga mobile phones, mas mabilis, ligtas, at episyenteng matatanggap ng 4Ps members ang kanilang cash grants at mas matutulungan sila sa mga transaksyong pinansyal, gaya ng paggamit ng digital banking at iba pang serbisyong maaaring makatulong sa kanilang kabuhayan,” Secretary Gatchalian said in his speech at the kick off ceremony of the 4Ps mobile phone distribution on Tuesday (March 18) at the Navotas Sports Complex.
During the event, some 50 beneficiaries from Navotas City and Malabon City received brand new phones sponsored by Globe and GCash.
Secretary Gatchalian pointed out that only 32,684 beneficiaries of the program nationwide will receive the mobile phones. They are the 4Ps grantees who are at Level 1 or Survival Level of well-being and are in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).
“Walang ginastos ang gobyerno sa mga cellphone. Lahat ng gumastos dito ay GCash at Globe kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa ating mga partners dahil sa kagustuhan nila na matulungan ang ating mga mamamayan na mag-migrate sa makabagong teknolohiya katulad ng mga e-wallets at Gcash, ay sila na ang nagkusang loob na magbigay ng mga cellphone sa ating mga benepisyaryo,” Secretary Gatchalian explained to reporters on the sidelines of the event.
The DSWD chief said the mobile phones were a product of the phone donation drive of the private partners to make the digital financial system of the country more inclusive to impoverished sectors.
“May used, second hand phone drive ang Globe at ang GCash. Nung nakuha nila iyon, binigay nila sa isang supplier nila na pinalitan naman ng bagong cellphones na mas mababang klase lang pero smart phone pa rin at brand new,” Secretary Gatchalian explained.
One of the beneficiaries who received the smart phone during the turnover ceremony was Luisa Marasigan from Malabon City.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako dahil mas napabilis ang pagkuha namin ng ayuda. Mabilis na, safe pa. Sa bahay lang okay na matatanggap namin sa Gcash,” Luisa said.
The mobile phone distribution is part of the “e-Panalo ang Kinabukasan” financial digital initiative of the 4Ps that aims to educate, inform, and encourage beneficiaries to utilize digital applications for managing their finances, especially for the beneficiaries living in remote areas.
The latest DSWD’s digital initiative aims to bring convenience to 4Ps beneficiaries living in areas classified as GIDA since they no longer have to go to the town centers to withdraw their cash grants from the Landbank’s automated teller machines (ATM).
The DSWD is thankful to Globe Telecoms for providing brand new android units capable of accessing GCash for the more than 32,000 Level 1 members of 4Ps at no cost to the government.
