The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has signed two agreements with mobile wallet giant GCash to boost digitalization efforts in public service delivery, including social protection programs and emergency response mechanisms.
A Quadripartite Memorandum of Agreement (QMOA) between the DSWD, Bureau of the Treasury, Land Bank of the Philippines, and GCash enables digital payment integration into the department’s Minors Travelling Abroad (MTA) clearance system and its Harmonized Electronic License and Permit System (HELPS).
The MTA platform facilitates travel clearance applications for minors traveling abroad, a measure intended to combat child trafficking.
Under the new deal, applicants can now pay fees digitally through GCash, streamlining document processing and approvals.
The HELPS system, meanwhile, manages online licensing and accreditation for NGOs and charitable institutions and will now include built-in digital payments.
GCash will serve as the payment collection channel, with funds settled through Land Bank and remitted to the Bureau of the Treasury.
Officials said the integration is expected to enhance transaction efficiency while ensuring transparency and compliance with public finance rules.
In a separate deal, the DSWD and GCash formalized a Memorandum of Agreement for the Kaagapay Donations Portal, which allows users to contribute to DSWD-accredited organizations aiding communities in crisis.
The portal is designed to enable fast, direct digital donations for disaster relief, medical aid, and support for underprivileged families. It supports contributions from both domestic and overseas donors using the GCash platform.
The agreements form part of GCash’s broader “Finance for All” initiative, which aligns with the Philippine government’s push for inclusive digitalization and e-governance.
Business News Asia