National ID, GCash bring Filipinos closer to their dreams

Insider Spotlight

• PSA and GCash have helped more than 2,000 Filipinos across over 25 barangays secure National IDs and open verified GCash accounts
• The initiative tackles a key barrier to financial inclusion, with 40 percent of adult Filipinos remaining unbanked due to a lack of documents, including IDs
• Verified e-wallet access can help Filipinos grow livelihoods, send money to loved ones, pay bills, and pursue goals such as returning to school
  
  
  
  

For Filipinos like 19-year-old Danielle, getting a National ID is more than completing a government requirement. It could be the first step toward becoming part of the digital economy—and fulfilling a dream put on hold.

Danielle paused her studies to support her family, working as a street vendor while saving for her eventual return to school. Without a valid government ID, she could not open formal financial accounts or access services that could help her livelihood grow.

Why it matters

The Philippine Statistics Authority and GCash are bringing National ID and e-wallet registration closer to underserved communities through PSA Co-location and GCash Barangay Outposts, a mobile, on-demand initiative.

More than 2,000 Filipinos across over 25 barangays nationwide have secured National IDs and opened verified GCash accounts through the effort.

"Dahil dito sa financial services ng GCash, pwede silang magka e-wallet. So dito mas maraming magre-register [para sa ID] kasi mas marami ang gustong mag-apply sa services ng GCash tulad sa e-wallet," PSA registration officer Ronnie Mallillin said. (Because of GCash’s financial services, they can have an e-wallet. So more people will register [for an ID] because more people want to apply for GCash services, such as its e-wallet.)

Dreams within reach

Danielle can now open a GCash account and explore financial tools that could help expand her small business. She hopes to return to school next year while continuing to support her mother, who earns a living doing laundry.

Bulacan housewife Alma likewise wants to use her newfound access to digital financial services to build a neighborhood bill-payment business through GCash Pera Outlet Plus.

Helping loved ones

For others, joining the digital economy means making everyday support for family easier. Eldie, a construction worker who suffered a stroke, previously had to travel to stores to send funds to his family. With his own GCash account, he can transfer money digitally.

Quezon laundrywoman Mutya regularly sends money to her mother in another town. Digital transactions can spare her the hassle of going to a store, particularly during rainy weather, just to send money or make payments.

Ren-ren Reyes Jr. ​

President and CEO, G-Xchange Inc. ​

The bigger picture

The push comes as digital payments account for more than half of retail transactions in the Philippines, with the BSP aiming to increase that share to 60 to 70 percent by 2028.

GCash lending arm Fuse Financing Inc. has also disbursed P362 billion in loans to 10.5 million unique borrowers as of end-2025.

"We want every Filipino to maximize the opportunities offered by the digital economy, and it all starts with having a valid ID. Accessing digital financial services opens doors to education, entrepreneurship, and better ways to manage their finances," G-Xchange Inc. president and CEO Ren-ren Reyes Jr. said.

For Danielle, Alma, Eldie, Mutya and thousands of others, having an ID and access to Gcash can mean finally saying, “Kabahagi na ako” (I’m already part of it )—and taking one more step toward turning long-held dreams into reality. —Ramon C. Nocon | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma