HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL
Through our annual Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum, we’ve been pushing for the recognition that Sustainability is not just about the environment, but also about initiatives that have a social and governance impact - how the 17 UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) are couched in putting forward a holistic ESG agenda (environment, social and governance). I was fortunate to attend the recent GCash Digital Excellence Awards, and it was a wonderful example of how successful Sustainability can be multi-dimensional; and how technology and innovation both have important roles to play in pushing these ESG agendas to the forefront.
SDG eight talks of Decent Work and Economic Growth, while SDG 10 is Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17 is Partnership for the Goals - so I was struck with how GCash is doing its own part in initiating action on these SDG’s, and understanding how "it takes a village" - that one doesn’t achieve this, or become effective, by doing things unilaterally, but by taking a multi-pronged approach that reaches out, and embraces partnerships.
Concentrating on the public sector, this evening’s leg of the GCash Digital Excellence Awards was all about recognizing the public sector partners that had excelled and seen GCash as a wonderful bridge to providing better service. And I loved how this was being intensified, even now that we didn’t have the pandemic’s shadow hanging over us.
Admittedly, the Covid health crisis may have initially spurred some of these public sector partners to go digital and adapt; but now that the advantages and efficiencies were felt, it’s been a no-brainer to see how beyond necessity, there was so much to be gained by going digital.
This was best summed up by GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon, “We are very grateful for our public sector partners, not just for building a relationship with us, but more importantly for truly sharing our vision of ‘Finance For All, and making the lives of Filipinos better each day.’ Our partnership has always been for the service of the underserved and the underbanked, which is why we celebrate everyone present here with us now as champions of financial inclusion”
When dealing with the private sector, it’s quite easy to see how this happens, a QR code for fishermen, for tricycle drivers, for vendors in a wet market, and presto; you’ve made those that might have been marginalized in the shift to digital, now part of a cashless system - enhancing financial inclusivity. When referring to public sector partners, there’s a multiplier effect created, as the LGU or government office can now interface with its constituents or members digitally - thereby increasing mobility, accessibility, and convenience.
What it takes for the LGU or government office is vision, commitment, recognizing and linking up with the partner that can best help them, and fast-track the process. The evening was GCash saying a warm thank you to those in the public sector that has made that shift, and recognized GCash as that service "partner."
The GCash Digital Excellence Awards was co-presented by the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Anti Red Tape Authority. Physically present, and representing their LGUs were Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap, Lapu Lapu City Mayor Junard Chen, Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, and Makati 2nd District Representative Luis Campos Jr.
The categories for the awards handed out had diversity and inclusion etched on them. The Excellence in Digital Empowerment went to LGUs that had facilitated the adoption of digital payment solutions for their public market vendors. Tagbilaran City, Lapu-Lapu City and Naga City were the big winners here.
There was a category for Excellence in Driving Digital Impact, one for Digital Adoption, one for Digital Breakthrough Growth Award, and one for Excellence in Digital Transformation, and one for Digital Innovation.
A special award that night was for Pioneer in Digital Financial Adoption - recognizing institutions that have had a long-standing collaboration with GCash. Makati City, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Pag-IBIG Fund, were the three recipients of this trailblazer award.
The Catalyst in Financial Inclusion Award honored public, private and special initiatives that facilitate digital financial inclusion for Filipinos. Awardees this year were the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police - Anti-Cybercrime Group, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, MYEG PH, and the Department of Trade and Industry - Nueva Ecija.
Best takeaway for me that night were the smiling faces of the public sector representatives called to the stage and awarded. Digital transformation is an often misunderstood concept, seen as elitist, of not much relevance to your regular man-in-the-street. But tonight was about GCash and their public sector partners making certain that Mr. Everyman participated in the ‘transforming’.
Merry Christmas, Philippines!