The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has tied up with Globe and GCash operator, G-Xchange, Inc (GXI), to enhance the delivery of social protection services across the Philippines.

In his message, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized that the partnership with the leading private-owned telecommunications company aims to take advantage of technology in advancing various humanitarian initiatives.

“The beauty about the Walang Gutom program is that there is a second avenue to expand that road. The pilot is coming to an end this month and we are now going to scale it up. The first 300,000 beneficiaries will be signed up and hopefully, next year, another 300,000 until we reach one million. The biggest challenge with the government is our hands are always tied when it comes to resources. We know that this program is good, we know that this program is a winner but the downside is we won’t be able to allocate funds to data track,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

Through a ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday (May 20) at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, Secretary Gatchalian, Globe President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ernest Cu, and G-Xchange, Inc President and CEO Oscar Enrico Reyes Jr formalized the partnership and the movement towards social change through technology.

The DSWD chief then presented what the agency wants to cooperate with Globe and G-Xchange, Inc. —ending hunger through Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program.

“Ending hunger has always been the Globe’s main competency. This time, we are offering you that golden opportunity to tie up with DSWD in celebrating the success of actually ending hunger… In order for us to say that we are able to do that, we have to track it. We have to gather data, and we have to celebrate it along the way. That is the first avenue of cooperation that we are putting forth today,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

The FSP is the newest program of the government to address involuntary hunger by providing food augmentation to food-poor households through their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that will be loaded monthly with Php3,000.

Secretary Gatchalian said the DSWD wants to partner with Globe in digitizing the disbursement of cash grants to the Pantawd Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.

“We are very thankful again to Globe for partnering with us on the move to use e-wallets for our 4Ps beneficiaries. The pilot run was quite successful but there were telltale signs of what we need to do moving forward. As we go to the geographically isolated and disadvantaged regions, one thing keeps on cropping up: ‘Bakit kami lilipat sa e-wallet wala naman kaming smartphone.’ Paulit-ulit nilang sinasabi sa amin yan,” the DSWD chief pointed out.

“The lack of accessibility to handheld smartphones or smart devices. That is the second avenue I am putting forth this morning. Hopefully, we can go beyond the roadshow of giving them the option to actually converting them to real GCash users because we enable them through giving them smartphones,” Secretary Gatchalian added.

Other areas of collaboration

The DSWD is also exploring the integration of the GCash Pera Outlet Program into the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), which will enhance livelihood opportunities and financial literacy among its beneficiaries.

In its implementation of the “Buong Bansa Handa,” the DSWD works with Globe to integrate its ‘Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging, and Libreng WiFi services during disasters, as well as the Globe Volunteerism Program to reinforce the efficiency of major disaster response hubs.

Through the MOU, the DSWD and GXI, Inc. will collaborate on digital disbursement solutions for the delivery of grants and assistance under the agency’s protective programs and services.

The agency will also tap Globe for its DSWD Academy to offer digital literacy and transformation courses, showcasing the DSWD’s commitment to professional development in social welfare.

According to GXI, Inc. President Reyes, the partnership with DSWD goes beyond transaction and collaboration as it is “rooted in our shared commitment of making a positive impact on the lives of our fellow countrymen.”

President Cu also expressed Globe’s support in assisting marginalized groups supported by the DSWD.

“We are one with the government in its continued efforts towards uplifting the lives of our kababayans. We are one with DSWD in delivering services to the most vulnerable people in our community,” the Globe president said.

The partnership with Globe and GXI, Inc. is part of the agency’s commitment toward digital transformation (DX), maximizing telecom, mobile technology, and fintech services and their significant impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of social welfare delivery. #