By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Realizing the inconvenience of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries lining before the automated teller machines (ATMs), the Department of Social Welfare and Development on Friday said it will now begin to utilize e-wallets.
The DSWD said in a statement that the use of e-wallets would be more helpful to beneficiaries located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA), as opposed to ATMs that they would have to visit in town.
“The wave of the future is cashless transactions. This is an upgrade from the 4Ps beneficiaries basic deposit accounts from the current automated teller machine (ATM) cards to electronic or digital wallets,” DSWD Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez announced.
It was learned that from February 24 to February 29, the DSWD also conducted Digital Financial Literacy Programs, in partnership with the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP); Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation; Ayala Foundation; GCash; and Pay Maya, in several regions l for their beneficiaries in preparation for the 4Ps e-wallet migration.
“Since 2019, the DSWD has been embarking on financial inclusion initiatives to ensure that all 4Ps beneficiaries have fully functioning transaction accounts that they can utilize to help them save money and empower them to become more financially independent,” Lopez quipped.
(el Amigo/MNM)
