The Makati City government was once again recognized for its technical innovations and services that helped improve the lives of its citizens in the modern age and amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Makati City Mayor Abby Binay announced that the city received two awards during the GCash Digital Excellence Awards held on Thursday, Dec. 1.
During the ceremony, the city was awarded the Excellence in Digital Sustainability and Digital Public Aid Distribution for the effective disbursement of government financial assistance and for being able to adapt early in the digital space and expanding the use of financial technology.
"I would like to thank GCash for these awards. GCash has been our partner since our digital transformation journey started. Together, we have worked hard to make digital payments and services accessible, reliable, and convenient for our citizens," Binay said.
She added that the Makatizen Card's GCash feature has helped improve access to financial services especially at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
In May 2020, GCash partnered with the local government unit (LGU) in creating contactless solutions to efficiently disburse P2.7 billion in economic aid to its more than 500,000 residents, making it the the first city in the country to implement the cashless distribution of financial assistance through a mobile wallet.
The partnership provided a digital disbursement facility for the expanded Makatizen Economic Relief Program which provided relief to city residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead of manually disbursing the financial aid through city hall employees or through physical disbursement facilities, the LGU used the GCash platform to efficiently and safely provide aid to its constituents. This reduced the risk of transmission of the disease, as it limits physical contact among people.
Through the said feature, the city released P364 million to over 72,000 residents in just one day since its implementation.
"The Makatizen Economic Relief Program, better known as MAKAtulong 5K, was a great success. With the help of GCash, we were able to distribute financial assistance and emergency aid safely and efficiently to residents. There was no confusion, no long queues, and no administrative hassle. The process was fast, reliable, and efficient," Binay said.
"The GCash Digital Excellence Award is more than just a recognition of our success. It affirms our commitment to bridging the gap between traditional financial services and digital payments," she added.
In 2017, Makati City partnered with Globe Telecom's subsidiary G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI) and iBayad Online Ventures Inc. to create a multipurpose ID called the Makatizen Card.
The card was initially made to provide residents with a multipurpose ID that functions as a valid government ID and ATM card.
"Makati will continue to think of innovative ways to utilize our digital initiatives and make public services closer to the public. We hope the other localities will replicate our projects so that Filipinos can enjoy the convenience and efficiency of digital technologies," Mayor Abby said.
In 2021, the city dominated the GCash Digital Excellence Awards and won four awards, such as Excellence in Innovation and Leadership, Excellence in Public Aid Distribution, Excellence in Digital Financial Inclusion, and Excellence in Digital Advancement for the Youth (together with the University of Makati).
Aside from using GCash in the disbursement of Covid-19 aid to its residents, the city government also uses the service in the distribution of cash incentives and allowances to its senior citizens.