Legazpi teachers, employees to receive incentives via GCash

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- The city government here will begin disbursing cash incentives to teachers and employees via GCash, replacing traditional cash payouts and reducing the need for beneficiaries to queue.

After Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, Legazpi City Mayor Hisham Ismail said in an interview that the initiative is part of the city government’s digital transformation program to improve public services.

The digital payout system will cover teachers, city government employees, and uniformed personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Payouts are targeted to begin in December. Ismail said office heads were instructed to submit the names of employees to be included in the digital payout.

“First of all, we thank GCash for providing free slots at no cost. This will include our workers, uniformed personnel, our partners from the BFP, BJMP, and PNP, as well as teachers for the digital payout this coming December,” Ismail said.

The mayor said the initiative would also reduce the workload associated with traditional cash payouts, noting that City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) personnel had to process honoraria payouts until late December.

Meanwhile, the city government has begun using GCash to distribute social pensions to senior citizens under its city-level program.

Ismail said more than 100 of the city’s 3,522 social pensioners had already received their payouts through GCash.

GCash registration is also being facilitated during payout activities, allowing more senior citizens to enroll in the digital payment system, he said.

The mayor said the GCash cards are being provided free of charge through the city’s partnership with GCash, instead of the usual PHP250 fee.

Ismail also encouraged senior citizens from the northern and southern barangays (villages) to use the digital payout system to avoid transportation costs when claiming their benefits in the city center.

“Instead of spending PHP300 to PHP500 on transportation, only PHP10 to PHP15 will be deducted from your payout through GCash,” he said.

Ismail added that all 70 barangays in the city have GCash payout stations, including stores that offer GCash services.

CTO head Constance Oliveros said the shift to digital disbursement would simplify fund releases. She cited online disbursement and Republic Act No. 8792, or the Electronic Commerce Act, as part of the city’s move toward digital transactions.

Oliveros said the city is helping teachers apply for GCash accounts and will assist those who encounter difficulties during the application process.

Under a memorandum of agreement between the city government and GCash, Oliveros said more than 20,000 free GCash cards will be provided.

The CTO is also considering extending the digital disbursement system to barangay health workers and other beneficiaries, including casual employees and job order workers. (PNA)