Bangsamoro residents will soon enjoy faster, safer, and more convenient access to digital payments following a new partnership between the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and GCash, the country’s leading finance app.

The initiative, aimed at advancing inclusive and sustainable finance in the region, enables cashless payment collection for MHSD’s housing and settlement-related services, replacing manual cash-based processes with more secure and efficient digital transactions.

Important step

“This partnership is an important step toward making financial services more accessible to every Bangsamoro. By leveraging digital platforms like GCash, we can improve the way public service is delivered, especially to those in remote communities,” MHSD-BARMM Minister Atty. Hamid Aminoddin Barra said.

Beyond payment collection, the MHSD is set to utilize GCash’s Financial Disbursement Service to quickly send shelter assistance to households affected by calamities or disasters. This is expected to enhance the agency’s disaster response and ensure timely delivery of aid.

“Guided by our strategic focus on Islamic inclusion, GCash is proud to be working toward Shari’ah-compliant finance, in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and BARMM ministries. Our goal is to ensure that Muslim Filipinos can participate confidently in the digital economy, honoring their values while gaining the benefits of modern finance,” said G-Xchange president and CEO Ren-Ren Reyes. DT

Digitizing public services

Reyes added that digitizing public services can reduce barriers and inefficiencies, providing faster, safer access to resources for underserved communities.

The partnership highlights the potential of public-private collaboration in bridging the digital divide and improving government services in far-flung areas, while respecting cultural and religious values.