By Edielyn Mangol, Reporter
As the Philippines accelerates into the digital age, GCash is emerging as a key player in shaping financial inclusion — and the fintech giant made its intentions clear at the recently-concluded 2025 Manila Tech Summit organized by Fintech Alliance.ph (click here for Day 1 highlights of the summit).
With the summit’s theme, “Forging a New Global Order: Risks and Opportunities Redefined,” GCash used the platform to outline its strategy for ensuring that the benefits of fintech reach everyone. Here’s how the company is positioning itself at the intersection of technology, fairness, and cybersecurity.
Driving financial inclusion in PH through digital transformation
In his keynote, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shared that the country’s digital sector reached P2.25 trillion in value last year, generating 11.3 million jobs.
President Ferdinand E. Marcos Jr. at Manila Tech Summit 2025
While these are impressive numbers, GCash recognizes that the true potential lies in closing the gap between digitally connected urban centers and underserved rural or low-income areas. One of the government’s goals — building more internet infrastructure and rolling out free WiFi zones — aligns with the fintech giant’s own vision of “digital rails” to deliver inclusive financial services.
At the summit, GCash president and CEO Oscar Enrico Reyes Jr. emphasized that innovation without widespread reach does little for nation-building. “At GCash, we believe innovation only matters when it reaches the many, not the few,” Reyes stated, underscoring the company’s commitment to bringing financial tools to all sectors of Philippine society.
GCash President and CEO Oscar Enrico Reyes Jr.
Expanding GCash services beyond payments
Traditionally known as a mobile wallet, GCash is expanding its service scope.
At the summit, representatives explained how the platform is going beyond payments to offer savings, insurance, and investment options — tailored for users who have been excluded from traditional financial institutions.
This diversified product offering is strategic: it not only helps users manage money more holistically but also builds financial resilience among communities vulnerable to economic shocks. Access to savings, micro-insurance, or even straightforward investment tools can make a difference when unexpected life events hit.
By giving people the means to prepare, the fintech giant helps build financial security from the ground up.
Breaking credit barriers with GScore and GLoan Sakto
Perhaps one of the most critical innovations GCash detailed is its approach to taking on financial inclusion via lending.
- GScore is GCash’s in-house trust scoring system. Instead of depending solely on traditional credit history—often unavailable for many Filipinos—GScore considers alternative data like in-app transactions. This allows people who’ve never had formal credit to demonstrate reliability via their digital behavior.
- GLoan Sakto is another financial product introduced for users who might normally be labeled “high risk” by banks. This small-loan option serves as a bridge—offering access to credit under more flexible criteria. Together with GScore, GLoan Sakto represents GCash’s effort to make fair lending a reality.
This model addresses a pressing issue: how to extend credit to people outside formal systems without falling into exploitative practices. By using alternative data, the fintech giant mitigates risk while offering more inclusive options. It’s a forward-thinking approach that challenges the traditional barriers to credit.
Prioritizing security: Cyber resilience as a foundation
Access means little without trust. GCash is acutely aware that people will only adopt these financial tools if they feel safe.
That’s why the company has placed cybersecurity at the core of its operations. It has invested heavily in fraud detection, real-time risk monitoring, and user education to strengthen trust in its platform.
The company’s focus on building a “cyber-resilient” environment is crucial as it invites more people into the formal financial inclusion system. By prioritizing security and user protection, GCash seeks to reassure both first-time users and seasoned digital natives that their funds and data are safe.
GCash’s vision for an inclusive financial future
GCash’s push for financial inclusion is not just a corporate goal — it aligns with national development objectives. Expanding digital financial access supports the government’s vision of accelerating economic growth through innovation. By reducing barriers to finance, GCash contributes to lifting more Filipinos out of poverty, encouraging entrepreneurship, and stimulating local economies.
As the digital economy grows, GCash’s work helps ensure that economic opportunities are not just concentrated in major urban centers but also reach rural and underserved communities. This nationwide approach to inclusion helps create a more balanced and resilient economy.
The road ahead: Inclusive growth through innovation
The Manila Tech Summit provided GCash a platform to show how financial inclusion and technology can be a force for inclusive growth. By expanding its services beyond payments, using alternative data to widen credit access, and strengthening cybersecurity, GCash aims to build an ecosystem where financial tools are available to all—regardless of background, income level, or location.
GCash’s vision is clear: innovation should empower, not exclude. As digital adoption accelerates in the Philippines, GCash is positioning itself as a bridge—connecting millions to the formal financial inclusion system and enabling them to participate in the digital economy.
The challenge now lies in sustaining this momentum. Expanding infrastructure, enhancing digital literacy, and maintaining user trust will be crucial for turning this vision into reality. But with its comprehensive approach and commitment to financial inclusion, GCash has set itself on a path to transform how Filipinos engage with finance — making sure no one gets left behind in the country’s digital revolution.
