With the continued efforts of GCASH and all its partners and supporters, the total funds raised to help in the effort to fight COVID-19 has reached 18.14M pesos.
As of March 31, 2020, the total od 18.14M is composed of donations made directly to partner organizations and through the GCash-led digital donation drive called #FightCOVID19. These funds were used to purchase medical gears to protect frontline health workers from contracting the virus, as well as relief goods for the families that were hit the most by the effects of the enhanced community lockdown.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the Filipino GCash users. We know very well that everyone is affected by the pandemic, and we at GCash are happy to see that our platform is being maximized during these trying times,” GCash Chief Technology and Operations Officer Pebbles Sy-Manalang said.
How was the total amount collected? Here’s a brief breakdown
Almost 12 million pesos was collected via the different scan to pay codes of the different partners like Caritas Manila, ABS-CBN Foundation, Globe BridgeComm, Generation Hope, Hapag Asa Foundation, Philippine Red Cross, World Vision, and UNICEF. The funds were directly sent to thhe respective GCash accounts of the beneficiaries.
Over P16,500 was also donated by GCash users to the ABS-CBN Foundation through the Send Money service of GCash. ABS-CBN Foundation, UNICEF, and the Philippine Red Cross also received support via the Pay Bills service on the mobile money platform.
Another 5.58 million pesos was also gathered from the #FightCOVID19 initiative led by GCash from various GCash users nationwide. The digital fundraising is part of GCash for Good, the corporate social responsibility program of GCash.
The funds raised via #FightCOVID19 is equally divided among seven partner organizations namely: the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), the Philippine Red Cross, World Vision, UP Medical Foundation, PGH Foundation, Inc., ABS-CBN Foundation, and Ayala Foundation. As advised, GCash will include Lung Center of the Philippines Physicians Association starting April 1 to replace the UP Medical Foundation as beneficiary.
GCash users may continue to send their support via #FightCOVID19. To support, GCash users simply have to click on the “Pay Bills” icon on their GCash apps, choose the “Others” tab, and click on “FightCOVID19.” GCash users then have to enter their name and the amount that they are donating to confirm their donation.
“Seeing that humanitarian groups and non-government organizations use the GCash app as a channel of good is very rewarding to the hardworking men and women of GCash. It validates that the work we do at GCash directly makes an impact on the lives of many people,” Sy-Manalang said.
Aside from these, individuals are using GCash to conduct their own fundraising activities to help mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the lives of Filipinos, especially those who were displaced. Through the funds that they gather via GCash, good-hearted individuals are supporting families in different parts of the Philippines by providing them care packages, and health workers by securing personal protective equipment (PPEs) for them.
“The willingness of the Filipino people to band together — all while maintaining social distancing — is what keeps us going despite working with limited capacities due to health protocols. We hope that as we go through these challenges together, we would see more people willingly supporting those who are deeply in need,” Sy-Manalang said.
