Under its mission to empower every Filipino, GCash—the country’s leading finance super app and largest cashless ecosystem—has partnered with WOW LEAP, Inc. (Women with Disabilities Leap to Social and Economic Progress) to advance the financial wellness journeys of persons with disabilities. Through the partnership, GCash and WOW LEAP will be working to emphasize “Kahit Sino, Kaya,” a major campaign that celebrates inspiring individuals fostering a more inclusive Philippines.
WOW LEAP is an organization started and managed by women with disabilities, whose main objectives include advocating access, gender equality, and disability and social inclusion—goals that align closely with GCash’s vision of Finance For All.
The partnership between GCash and WOW LEAP involves sponsorship programs, fundraising activities, and capacity-building workshops to empower persons with disabilities and enable them to thrive in a more accessible financial landscape.
“Inclusion is one of our core values, and GCash is at the forefront of financial inclusion,” stated Neil Trinidad, chief marketing officer of GCash. “The persons with disabilities sector is among the most underserved. Of the 1.9 million disability cases in the Philippines, 673,000 have physical disabilities. Only 11% of persons with disabilities are employed, and only 9.6% are banked.”
One of the first initiatives under the partnership was the turnover of wheelchair donations to patients of the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) who have sustained disabilities and have no access to mobility aids. The provision of much-needed wheelchairs, carried out with the generous support of Visa, aims to help beneficiaries retain their independence and enhance their quality of life as they navigate post-disability.
During the turnover, Dr. Raul Cembrano, director of rehabilitation medicine at the POC pledged his department’s expertise in customizing every wheelchair to the specific needs of its intended user. WOW LEAP hailed the POC as one of the pillars of rehabilitation services in the country, given its unmatched dedication to ensuring that every patient with a disability receives the appropriate support they need.
The outreach mirrors the personal advocacy of the first Paralympic Games medalist of the Philippines Adeline “Adz” Dumapong, who spent her early education on POC grounds and her initial powerlifting training in the POC rehab department. Adz is currently the Project Manager of Capacity Development for WOW LEAP, Inc. Her inspiring journey toward international renown and her work championing Filipino paralympic athletes are featured in the latest #GCashStories campaign.
“When I joined WOW LEAP, Inc., I realized that the world is bigger than sports, so now I am more motivated to help my community,” Dumapong explained at the launch of her #GCashStories. On advocating for persons with disabilities, she said, “We cannot do it alone, we need allies, not just in opening mindsets, but also in action.”
The partnership also pursues real-life, tangible, and positive impact in other key areas of financial inclusion, namely, access to education and access to funding. GCash will be working closely with WOW LEAP and its extensive network of women with disabilities, parents of youth with disabilities, and local stakeholders across eight regions for the programs to help more people.
Carmen Zubiaga, president of WOW LEAP, commended GCash for sharing Dumapong’s story through a major campaign, and said, “Sports is one of the keys to inclusion and empowerment. Adz will bring hope and energy for women with disabilities, parents of children and youth with disabilities, and local stakeholders in disability inclusion to engage in organizing community sports activities to discover the talents and abilities of these people that will promote paralympic sports.”
Under its Finance For All banner, GCash is working to empower persons with disabilities to attain or retain their financial independence. The company is developing a financial literacy module that will equip learners with essential knowledge on digital financial security, investments, insurance, and savings.
Through its app, GCash will also continue to leverage technologies to boost access to much-needed resources, such as when fundraising efforts are coursed via GCash QR codes. Currently, WOW LEAP is holding a fundraising drive for its disability rights programs, and donation transactions can be coursed through its official GCash QR code.
“Part of our vision of inclusivity is that financial aid is readily available to those who have a great need for it. GCash is helping make financial security more accessible—and our technologies are making compassionate, collective action possible for all the kind hearted individuals who wish to help in any way they can,” said Winsley Bangit, GCash vice president and group head of new businesses and wealth management.
“We understand that so much work needs to be done in creating a truly inclusive world, and our service is only beginning. But our commitment—to improving access to aid and breaking down barriers to protection—is unwavering,” added Bangit.
GCash also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Council on Disability Affairs as it commits to create a more inclusive workplace for persons with disabilities through its policies, programs, and workspaces.
