ASSIST partners with GCash in launching UNLAD Pilipinas project to streamline financial literacy and digital financial solutions for common Filipino communities

A World Bank survey revealed that Filipinos ranked the lowest on adult financial literacy in South East Asia. Having a shared vision of empowering small communities through social equity and capacity-building, the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) teamed up with GCash in launching UNLAD Pilipinas. The program aims to promote financial inclusion and cashless currency innovations towards Filipinos, especially the common masses. Its pilot launch was successfully conducted in Isla Puting Bato, Tondo, Manila.

A total of 51 participants joined the initial launch of UNLAD Pilipinas which capacitated trainers in teaching and discussing topics related to financial literacy. Following its pilot phase, the project targets a “granular yet comprehensive” approach for its succeeding interventions in priority locations including Batangas, Cebu, and Davao.

“As the saying goes, knowledge is power. These kinds of awareness-raising activities can greatly benefit the public by providing them with extensive knowledge on financial management and innovative financial solutions. Beyond that, these training promote financial inclusion by ensuring that individuals and MSMEs are aware and have access to financial products and services that can address their needs,” said Mr. Francis Macatulad, the Executive Director of ASSIST.

The activities involved in the UNLAD Pilipinas project include training of trainers followed by roll-out sessions geared towards awareness raising by engaging stakeholders, conducting training for trainers sessions, and generating learning modules on financial literacy in local dialects (i.e., Tagalog, Cebuano).

Ultimately, UNLAD Pilipinas pushes to conduct roll-out sessions to educate the youth and medium to small enterprise (MSME) owners on financial inclusion and management, and to train them in the effective adoption of cashless forms of currency. MSME owners include wet market vendors, mobile vendors, small format vendors, and public transport operators.

“True to our vision of achieving ‘Finance for All’, GCash is determined to continue pushing for digital financial solutions that empower our users. Through products and services like GCash Pro we make sure entrepreneurs can have an all-in-one digital platform to sustainably grow their business. Meanwhile GCash Jr. gives the youth a platform to start their road financial freedom at an early age,” said Winsley Bangit, Chief Customer Officer of GCash.

Crucial to being financially secure is being financially literate. As such, ASSIST and GCash remain dedicated in trailblazing capacity-building activities and campaign initiatives to empower the common Filipino towards informed and responsible financial decision-making, and to lay the groundwork for national financial inclusivity.