Sustaining daily activities and businesses in the new normal means following safety protocols especially in receiving payments from customers and various stakeholders. And tricycle drivers and market vendors in Pasig City have found a safe and secure way to do this.

GCash QR is a solution introduced by GCash as part of its partnership with AMTODA (Antipolo Market Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association) and ASCLP TODA (Antipolo Sumulong College Lores Plaza Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association), and with vendors at the Pasig City Mega Market. It is a safe and effective alternative to send and receive money without having to share one's mobile number.

Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash said, "At the heart of this program is financial inclusion. We envision enabling community organizations, micro and small businesses with the digital finance platform so they can enjoy its benefits at a time when they need it most. Many of them are frontliners too. We should also focus on helping them by providing them with tools so they can continue growing their businesses and serving their customers during the pandemic."

Restituto Bayote, President of AMTODA which has over 500 members, shared that they have been encouraging members to use QR on Demand as a contactless way to safely and securely receive payment from their passengers. They have been working closely with GCash to orient drivers of its beneficial features, especially the elderly ones.

Antipolo TODA driver Zakde Guirela agrees that it is more secure to use the GCash QR, "Mas magandang gamitin ang GCash kasi kailangan nating umiwas sa sakit ngayong pandemya. Kaya mas komportable na gumamit ng GCash para makaiwas tayo sa kumakalat na virus."

Ronnie Fabian, a textile owner at the Pasig City Mega Market, is also using the cashless payment option of GCash QR which helped him attract more customers outside of the public market."Nakakatulong siya, lalo na for transactions outside of the public market. 'Pag may mga tumatawag sa 'kin para magpa-deliver, usually hindi kami tumatanggap ng COD. Dahil sa GCash, ita-transfer na lang nila sa GCash ko 'yung payment."

Entrepreneurs like Coleen Lopez, who has an RTW stall and owns an online shop called Coleen's Businezz, is a long-time GCash user who is looking forward to using the Digital QR feature."Hassle-free ang app na 'yan. Minsan may customer ako na kinulang yung dala niyang cash. Pero mayroong laman yung GCash niya. 'Yun nalang pinang-bayad niya instead na mag-withdraw pa siya sa ATM."

Pasig City Councilor, Rhichie Gerard Brown added that, "Since last year we have been pushing for cashless transactions among vendors and trike drivers to promote the health of all, para mawala yung physical transfer [ng virus]. It is also a secure way to accept payment and to avoid circulation of counterfeit bills. It is about time our vendors and trike drivers adapt to this new business model, they need to enjoy the benefits of e-wallets and contactless payment."

Empowered by the GCash platform, these owners of small businesses and drivers of TODA can further enjoy the benefits of using the app with its financial services products such as savings, investment, insurance, and credit.

Since most of these palengke vendors and TODA drivers are among the financially underserved, empowering them to do their business through the app just like any other big merchant will help them cope during these trying times.

Sazon also added, "Our partner MSMEs and drivers are at the very soul of our existence as a mobile wallet. More than being a lifestyle brand, GCash is committed towards working with every sector in the society in order to tailor digital financial solutions relevant to the situation they may be in. With our expanding effort to bring GCash QR to MSMEs, we bring financial services closer to those who have no traditional access to these products. Truly this is a manifestation of our vision of promoting finance for all."

Presently, GCash has on-boarded over 1,200 TODA drivers and over 100 palengke vendors. The company envisions on-boarding more of these businesses to provide better financial services access to all sectors in the society.

Currently, TODA drivers around the Antipolo area accept GCash as a payment method. Paying through GCash in palengke is currently available in Farmer's Market and Pasig Mega.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas envisions that 50% or half of all transactions should be digital by 2023. "The QR Ph P2P or the QR code for person-to-person payment, and the QR Ph P2M or the QR code for person-to-merchant payment are big boosts to our thrust for financial inclusion, especially among micro and small entrepreneurs. Now more than ever, they need access to financial technology and tools that they can use to transact and grow their businesses," remarks Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor for Payments and Currency Mamerto Tangonan.

"Micro and small entrepreneurs provide essential products and services to the masses. They are vital contributors to the growth of local economies. Many Filipinos depend on them for their daily needs like food and transportation, so giving them access to a solution like the QR code for person-to-person or the QR code for person-to-merchant payment is a big help because it allows them to transact safely and securely during this pandemic," Tangonan says.

"I welcome the decision of GCash to take part in this journey and to be counted among the growing list of financial institutions offering QR code payment services to consumers and merchants. Adopting the QR Ph standard will make GCash interoperable with banks and other electronic money issuers, and this will certainly provide more payment options and convenience to Filipino consumers," Tangonan adds.

To further strengthen its commitment to support community organizations and public sector groups nationwide, GCash will hold a webinar entitled, "One with the Nation: Forging Public-Private Partnerships Towards Digital Inclusion in the Philippines" on June 25 at 9:00 am. The webinar will feature distinguished speakers from various public sectors including Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno, Makati Mayor Abby Binay, Congressman Jose Enrirque Garcia, Bureau of Treasury of the Philippines OIC Deputy Treasurer Ed Marino, and GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon.

LGU officials and National Government Agency representatives nationwide are invited. To register for the webinar, visit tinyurl.com/pprdc2cj.

For more information visit its website.