Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian presides over a meeting with representatives of Globe and Gcash operator, G-Xchange, Inc (GXI) on Wednesday (September 18) to discuss strategic solutions targeted at making digital delivery of social protection services accessible to beneficiaries.

In collaboration with Globe and GXI, the DSWD aims to raise 4 million units of second-hand smartphones from a phone donation campaign for distribution to program beneficiaries of the agency. This initiative seeks to help beneficiaries living in far-flung areas, as well as those facing challenges in accessing digital wallets like G-cash due to the lack of handheld devices.

The DSWD chief raised the option to integrate the cash-for-work (CFW) to broaden the benefits of the initiative, and provide temporary employment to beneficiaries.

Present in the meeting were G-Xchange, Inc (GXI) President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Oscar Enrico Reyes Jr.; Public Sector Head Cathlyn Pavia; Public Sector National Government Head Mara Duterte; and Public Sector Manager Cash Maghirang; Globe Head of Analytics and Intelligence for Corporate Communications Carlo Santos; and Corporate Communications Group Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Yoly Crisanto.

Joining the secretary were DSWD Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay; Assistant Secretary for Innovations Baldr Bringas; National Household Targeting System and Undersecretary Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Vilma Cabrera; Assistant Secretary for e-Governance and Information and Technology (IT) Concerns Julius Exequel Gorospe; and Assistant Secretary for Partnerships Building and Resource Mobilization Ana Maria Paz Rafael.