Globe expands GCash payment facility

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Telecom unit G-Xchange Inc. (GXI) is expanding its bills payment through GCash, its mobile commerce service platform.

GXI president Paolo Baltao said they are in talks with several government agencies and attached entities, as well as foreign government services, for possible tie-ups.

“We can not reveal it now but it will continue to enhance the convenience of mobile commerce,” Baltao said on the sidelines of formal signing ceremonies with Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) yesterday.

He cited the PCSO Bingo Milyonaryo, which requires a bettor to go to a PCSO counter to place bets. Alternatively, the bettor can download an app, called Lotto Sell, fund the bets though GCash, and thus eliminate having to go to the counter.

The minimum bet is P5, and draws are held three times a day. Globe earns one percent from the top-ups, not directly from the betting public.

Meanwhile, GXI’s alliance with Pag-IBIG Fund makes it easier to place monthly mandatory contributions (savings) and housing loan payments, anywhere anytime.

This means the 12 million Pag-IBIG members can remit their contributions at roughly P100 per member per month using the mobile phone, which theoretically means P1.2 billion worth of transactions every month for GXI.

There is also the loan payments made by Pag-IBIG members on a monthly basis.

Globe earns on a per transaction basis, while contributions and payments are simplified for Pag-IBIG and its members.

Pag-IBIG president and chief executive officer Darlene Marie B. Berberabe said simplifying the process of paying loans and making contributions could attract more individuals to join the Fund.

“We expect to grow our membership base further as well as the volume of our membership savings premium payments as it gives our members an alternative, especially the kasambahays (domestic helpers), an option to send in their monthly mandatory savings and loan payments minus the hassle of queuing,” Berberabe added.

In order to get GCash, a subscriber just needs to dial *143# and select ‘GCash’ then choose ‘Register’ using their Globe or TM SIMs. Converting cash to GCash wallets is equally easy.

Funding may be done via online bank transfers (www.globe.com.ph/gcash), mobile banking with BPI (by dialing *119# after enrollment) and Union Bank of the Philippines (Unionbank), BancNet ATMs with minimal fees or through any of more than 7,000 GCash outlets nationwide free of service charge.

To remit Pag-IBIG payments, members can pay either P100 (monthly mandatory Savings) or P500 (Modified Pag-IBIG II) by dialing *143# on their mobile phones, selecting ‘GCash’ and choosing ‘Pay Bills’. For housing loan, just include the 20-digit payment reference number.