DOJ, GCash sign MOA allowing digital wallet access for refugees

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and mobile wallet provider GCash on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that will allow recognized refugees in the Philippines to access digital wallet services.

DOJ Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (RSPPU) chief Dennis Chan said refugees must first secure a certification of recognition from the Justice Department to verify their status.

Chan said there are around 1,000 recognized refugees in the country.

“We reached out to GCash and they were receptive to the idea of allowing recognized refugees to open e-wallets with them. They’d just like to make sure that their internal KYC (know your client) policies are in accordance with BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) guidelines,” he said.

The MOA was signed by Chan, Justice Undersecretary Fredderick Vida, GCash Vice President Jorge Franco Sarmiento, and GCash Head of Public Sector Cleo Celeste Santos.

According to Chan, the agreement currently covers only GCash, but the department remains open to collaborating with other digital wallet providers.

Chan stressed that access to financial services could open doors to employment, entrepreneurship, education, and greater community participation.

“By bringing together the expertise of GCash and the mandate of the DOJ-RSPPU, we are creating opportunities for persons of concern to access financial products and services that many of us consider part of everyday life,” he said.

For her part, BSP Regional Operations and Advocacy Sector Managing Director Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said financial inclusion goes beyond access to financial services.

“It is about dignity, participation, and the opportunity to build a more secure future. For persons of concern who are rebuilding their lives, a digital account can be an important gateway to that opportunity,” she said.

Meanwhile, Vida reaffirmed the DOJ’s commitment to protecting and upholding the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons.

Vida said the department continues to ensure that persons of concern have access to the rights, services, and opportunities needed to rebuild their lives.

“Ultimately, the significance of this MOA will not be measured by today’s signing ceremony, but by the opportunities it creates, the barriers it helps remove, and the lives it helps improve,” he said.

“Success will be reflected in individuals who are able to participate more fully in economic life, families who gain greater financial security, and communities that become stronger through greater inclusion and participation,” he added.—MCG, GMA News