BY ANTONIO DELOS REYES
The first ever GCash Digital Excellence Awards, a pioneering recognition program organized by the country’s no. 1 mobile wallet, has cited institutions that pioneered the use of digital finance programs for safe and efficient delivery of public services.
Keynote speaker BangkoSentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno cited the pivotal role of digital finance in ensuring that the public is served well, and lauded GCash for its efforts toward this end.
“Tonight, we turn the spotlight to GCash and its partner agencies and the government units that exemplified outstanding digitalization efforts toward improving efficient public service delivery,” noted Diokno.
The Excellence in Innovation and Leadership Award recognized government institutions that pioneered the use of digital solutions for prompt and effective delivery of public service.
The award was given to the city government of Makati and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The Excellence in Digital Public Aid Distribution cited government bodies that partnered with GCash in providing quick and relevant digital solutions for the distribution of government benefits. Cited were the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Social Security System and the city governments of Makati and Muntinlupa.
The Excellence in Digital Public Service Award given to public institutions that contributed to the growth of the cashless ecosystem was awarded to PAG-IBIG FUND (HDMF) for being the top government biller on the GCash app. The city government of Parañaque was the top LGU partner in online payments while DTI was the top government biller for online payments.
The Excellence in Digital Ecosystem Innovation Award recognized institutions or sectors that partnered with GCash in creating an effective digital ecosystem to improve the lives of their constituents. The city government of Quezon City was awarded for their livelihood and financial access program. SSL TODA and city government of Antipolo were lauded for adapting the TODA cashless payments. Also awarded were the city governments of Lapu-Lapu and Tagbilaran in Visayas and Samal in Mindanao.
The Baguio Water District in Luzon, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District in Visayas, and the Davao Water District in Mindanao all received the recognition for water districts.
The Excellence in Digital Advancement of the Youth Awards, for state universities in LGUs that implemented an outstanding program promoting a digital ecosystem among the youth, went to the city governments of Makati and Muntinlupa, Muntinlupa Science High School, Bulacan State University for Luzon, Eastern Visayas State University for Visayas, and Caraga State University in Mindanao.
GCash also honored organizations or individuals as Digital Financial Inclusion Champions.
Its awardees were Rameses Systems Inc. from Cebu, city government of Makati, DTI Assistant Secretary Mary Jean Pacheco, Deputy Governor Mert Tangonan, and Bataan 2nd District Congressman Enrique S. Garcia III.