Fintechalliance.ph members meet with BSP and top cybersecurity officials

As part of its campaign to combat fraudulent activities such as phishing scams, members of FintechAlliance.ph rallied behind the launch of the Nationwide Consumer Cybersecurity Awareness and Education Campaign Against Scams, “‘Wag Magpaloko Maging Scam Alerto!”

Launched on May 29, 2023, during the Fintech Alliance Ph’s General Membership Meeting, the campaign gained support from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

FintechAlliance.ph is the Philippines’ leading digital and fintech association that accounts for over 90% of the country’s digitally-initiated financial transactions with close to 100 corporate members.

“We are coming together as a united industry against phishing and other cybercrimes – which has been an urgent issue not just here in the Philippines but also globally. In order to build an inclusive digital economy, we need to reinforce trust and confidence by arming users with the right information and working closely with the PNP and the NBI. This is a shared responsibility not just among alliance members but also along with regulators, law enforcers, media, and the consumers,” said Fintech Alliance PH founding chairman Lito Villanueva.

Among the members of the FinTech Alliance.ph which committed to aggressively promote the industry-led cybersecurity education initiative include GCash, Maya Bank, UNO Digital Bank, Grab, RCBC, CIMB, Palawan Pay, Cebuana Lhuillier, P.J. Lhuillier, Alibaba Cloud, AllEasy, Asialink, Avaloq, Ayannah, Bank Genie, Betur, Brankas, BTI Payments, Bukas, Card MRI, CIBI, CIS Bayad Center, CRIF, Cyfirma, Food Panda, Digido, Direct Agent 5, Disini Law, Finantier, Finscore, BillEase, Geniusto, Gorriceta Law, Home Credit, HT Financial, iMoney, Investagrams, Investree, IT Group, KwikTech, Manulife, Novare, Moneyguru, Mount Fuji Lending, Multisys, NATCCO, and Netbank. Other key fintech players like Amazon, Cashalo, True Money, Xendit, Netcore, OF Bank, Paymongo, PeraHub, MOCASA, 7-Eleven, Pru Life UK, Rockbird, Salesforce, SAVii, SeedBox, SeedIn, Share Treats, Smart, Sun Life, Tala,  InLife, Togetech, TransUnion, Traxion, Vesta Payment also threw their support for the campaign.

“I am proud to see everyone working hard to make the Nationwide Consumer Cybersecurity Awareness and Education Campaign an effective and invaluable tool in helping accelerate the Philippines’ digital economy. You can count on the BSP to be a staunch supporter of this project. We will continue to work hand in hand with all of our stakeholders and ensure the far-reaching impact of this campaign,” BSP governor Felipe Medalla said.

Aside from the BSP, key officials from cybersecurity enforcement agencies were on hand during the launch led by NBI-CCD Chief Atty. Jeremy Lotoc and PNP-ACG Spokesperson P/Capt. Michelle Sabino.

“We at the PNP-ACG, are committed to help the FintechAlliance.ph promote its cybersecurity campaign to protect and safeguard our countrymen against cybercrimes”, said Sabino.

United under the Alliance, Philippine fintech players are keen on demonstrating their commitment to driving financial inclusion in the country.

GCash users can now opt for a hassle-free, cashless payment method on their next Euro trip as the Philippines’ leading mobile wallet is now accepted in Europe’s top travel destinations, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy.

This cross-border payment service is part of the e-wallet’s strengthened collaboration and partnership with Alipay+ to offer a seamless and secure payment experience, as well as real-time foreign exchange (forex) with no service fee, allowing customers to a hassle-free and rewarding travel experience abroad.

Among the key merchants and stores that can accept GCash via Alipay+ are Harrods, Liberty London, and Harvey Nichols in the UK; Printemps in France; Müller and dm-drogerie markt in Germany; as well as itTaxi, and IVS Group, the leader in the vending machines market, in Italy.

“In line with our fervent commitment to make our customers’ everyday lives better and more convenient, we want to make sure that they can maximize their GCash account not only locally but wherever they are across the world. We look forward to expanding to other markets abroad soon and to partner with even more merchants in 2023,” GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon said.

When paying for your purchases at these destinations, be sure to look for the Alipay+ logo at the checkout. Open your GCash app and select the QR or PayQR button at the bottom of the screen. Scan the merchant’s QR code, or tap “Pay Abroad with Alipay+” to have the merchant scan your generated QR. Then check the amount, and click Pay to see the receipt.

So no need to bring cash or exchange currency for shopping abroad. Just choose the GCash Scan-to-Pay option for your purchases for a  smooth and seamless travel experience – all in just a few taps on your phone via the GCash app! For more information, visit https://help.gcash.com/ and click the “How to Pay QR Internationally” topic.

GCash is continuously expanding its international payment touchpoints in partnership with Alipay+. Aside from the European destinations, the Philippine e-wallet can be used to pay in select merchants across Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Qatar.

It’s also making its services available to more Filipinos worldwide as the GCash app can now be used with international numbers in the US, UK, Canada, Japan, Italy, and Australia.

Committed to support sustainable development and address climate change, the Philippines’ leading mobile wallet GCash, together with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), are continuing their initiatives to increase forest coverage and enhance existing mangrove areas in Cebu.

Through GCash’s GForest and RAFI’s One to Tree Program, a total of 1,075,000 mangroves and upland trees have been planted since 2021. For the remainder of 2023, 75,000 more mangroves will be planted, completing the target of 1,150,000 trees spread across three projects in the province.

The two GForests cover the Luyang Watershed in the northern town of Carmen. One project has 375 hectares of farmland in the barangays of Caurasan, Upper Natimao-an, Liboron, Ipil, Cantumog, and Lower Natimao-an. Meanwhile, the other consists of 355 hectares of farmland with planting sites in the barangays of Upper Natimao-an, Corte, Ipil, Caurasan, Hagnaya, Lanipga, and Cantumog.

Among the 600,000 native trees planted in the two GForests are Avocado, Bangkal, Cacao, Cashew, Coffee, Guyabano, Jackfruit, Mamalis, Mangosteen, Molave, Nangka, Narra and Rambutan with a high survivability rate between 92 to 94% as of March 2023.

The Luyang Watershed is a significant ecological area in Cebu as it supplies at least twenty-four thousand cubic meters of surface fresh water. The enhancement of tree cover in the two GForests will improve rainwater percolation.

As a result, this increases the water table under the horizon that supplies springs that support surface water along rivers. The neighboring urban cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu will benefit from this in terms of water supply.

The third project is GForest Mangroves which aims to plant 550,000 seedlings in Daanbantayan, San Remigio, and Medellin. The three municipalities are facing the Tañon Strait, the biggest marine protected area in the Philippines under the National Integrated Protected Areas System.

As of May 2023, about 47.5 hectares have been covered for enrichment planting with 475,000 seedlings of the Bakhaw Lalaki (Rhizopora apiculata), Bakhaw Babae (Rhizopora mucronata), Bakhaw Bato (Rhizopora stylosa), Bungalon (Aviccenia alba), Miapi (Aviccenia marina), Aviccenia officinallis, Aviccenia rumphiana, Pagatpat (Sonneratia alba), Pedada (Sonneratia caseolaris), and Sonneratia ovata species.

Aside from mitigating the risks of natural disasters and augmenting water supply, the partnership has also helped in the livelihood of local communities. GCash and RAFI have engaged 200 landowners, 687 individuals, and ten people’s organizations in the site preparation, tree-planting, and maintenance activities of the projects.

“GCash is steadfast in playing an active role in minimizing the effects of climate change. Through GForest, we encourage Filipinos to take part in our eco-friendly initiatives and be Green Heroes. With partner organizations like RAFI, we continue to plant the seeds for a better tomorrow,” said CJ Alegre, GCash Head for Sustainability.

 

“This partnership with GCash allows us to reach more people and enable them to take part in caring for our environment even in simple ways. Through this partnershxqip people can build GForests one tree at a time, and also help in community-building and income augmentation of locals. This is a win for the environment and a win for Cebuanos,” said Amaya Aboitiz-Fansler, RAFI President and Chief Executive Officer.

GForest is an in-app feature rolled out in 2019 in line with GCash’s sustainability agenda. Users earn green energy for cashless transactions done in the app such as paying bills, buying load, and sending money. Green energy is collected and used to plant virtual trees.

GCash partners with international and local organizations in planting actual trees around the country. At present, they have planted 2.2 million trees and aim to plant a total of 5 million trees by 2025.

For more information about GForest and other sustainability initiatives, visit www.gcash.com.ph