GCash Provides 15-Day Grace Period for Borrowers Affected by Recent Typhoons

Philippines’ leading super finance app, GCash, through official lending arm Fuse Financing Inc., is extending relief by granting a 15-day grace period for borrowers of GLoan and GGives residing in areas hit by the "Habagat" monsoon and Tropical Depressions Crising, Dante, and Emong.

Loan repayments due between July 19 to July 31 will automatically be extended by 15 days. For example, if a customer's due date is July 21, 2025, and they miss the payment or have insufficient funds, no penalty or late fee will be applied until August 5, 2025. Borrowers will not incur additional interest or late fees during the extension period, allowing them to focus on recovery without added financial stress.

Eligible borrowers will receive SMS notifications detailing their new due dates and guidance on managing repayments. Those who can repay early are encouraged to do so.

"We stand with the communities affected by the recent onslaught of typhoons and are committed to helping them rebuild their lives," said Tony Isidro, president and CEO of Fuse Financing. "Every single effort counts, and together, we can make a significant difference."

Here are complete list of areas where GCash extends 15-day grace period for borrowers affected by the recent typhoons: For National Capital Region (Las Piñas, Malabon, Manila, Marikina, Navotas, Quezon City), Region 1 (Pangasinan), Region III (Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac), Region IV-A (Batangas, Cavite, Rizal), Region IV-B (Palawan), Region VI (Antique) and Region VII (Cebu City).

Other locations may be included as the government declares additional areas under a state of calamity. Customers with clarifications can file a ticket through GCash Help Center or talk to Gigi inside the GCash App.

Mercato Centrale Partners with Peddlr to Power Small Food Businesses' Growth

Metro Manila — Mercato Centrale Group, the country’s leading food business incubator, has partnered with tech solutions provider Peddlr Philippines Inc. to provide digital tools that help small food entrepreneurs streamline operations and scale their businesses.

The strategic collaboration introduces Peddlr’s point-of-sale and analytics platform to food Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within the Mercato ecosystem, supporting their shift toward data-driven and tech-enabled operations.

The partnership was formalized by leadership teams from both organizations during the contract signing, including Mercato Centrale’s CEO, RJ Ledesma, and General Manager, Dan Aguilar, along with Peddlr’s Head of Product, Kendrick Chan, and Go-to-Market Senior Associate, Janri Tomioka.

“This partnership is a vital part of Mercato Centrale’s vision,” said Ledesma. “It’s not enough to serve great food. Our vendors need to understand operations, manage finances, and build customer relationships. With Peddlr, they can take control of their business using practical and accessible tools.”

Peddlr’s mobile app streamlines operations for food businesses by offering point-of-sale functions, inventory tracking, QRPH-enabled payments, and real-time sales monitoring. Once available only to larger enterprises, these tools are now being extended to MSMEs through the partnership with Mercato Centrale.

“Access to analytics changes the game for our vendors,” said Aguilar. “They can now run promos more effectively, adjust pricing, and monitor margins. It’s an essential upgrade for today’s entrepreneurs.”

To bridge the digital divide, the partnership includes training and onboarding support for vendors with limited digital experience or older devices. It also establishes a secure data-sharing ecosystem that connects Mercato Centrale directly with its merchant network, enabling more targeted initiatives and enhanced support for MSMEs. For partners with older tech devices or less digital experience, the organizations plan to provide training and onboarding so they can also utilize these digital features.

Mercato and Peddlr aim to bring these tools to hundreds of vendors across Metro Manila, enabling them to grow smarter and more sustainably in an increasingly competitive food landscape.

Globe Backs DICT’s Digital Bayanihan in Tawi-Tawi With Continued Investments in Connectivity and Inclusion

Globe reaffirmed its role as a committed government partner in promoting digital inclusion and sustainable connectivity during the Digital Bayanihan Tawi-Tawi leg, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Digital Bayanihan highlighted a shared goal between the public and private sectors to expand digital access in far-flung areas, where connectivity serves as a gateway to education, livelihood, and vital public services.

Globe’s participation demonstrated its support for the national digitalization agenda through sustained investments in infrastructure and digital tools that close connectivity gaps and enhance daily life in underserved communities.

“Globe is proud to stand beside the national government in realizing the dream of a digitally empowered Philippines. Our work in Mindanao, especially in areas like Tawi-Tawi, reflects our belief that no one should be left behind in the digital age,” said Robert Aquino, Assistant Vice President for Government Relations at Globe, during the event.

In line with this vision, Globe has built and upgraded around 2,000 cell sites across Mindanao in 2024 and continues to expand its fiber footprint to deliver reliable mobile and broadband connectivity where it is needed most.

Globe pairs its infrastructure efforts with community‑focused initiatives that drive digital empowerment. Partnering with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the company provided nearly 500 mobile phones to 4Ps beneficiaries, enabling them to receive government aid via GCash and improve their quality of life.

“Connectivity is a human right. Through stronger infrastructure and community programs, we help Filipinos access opportunities, public services, and economic mobility,” added Aquino..

Globe also encourages the responsible and purposeful use of the internet, guiding communities to harness connectivity for personal and collective development by using digital tools to build resilience and uplift local economies.

With the President in attendance, the event gathered leaders including DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez, Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali, Bongao Mayor Jimuel Que, and Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) Chancellor Dr. Mary Joyce Gunto-Salih.

Globe’s active involvement in Digital Bayanihan reinforces its long-term alignment with the government’s universal connectivity goals, rolling out infrastructure to expand access in remote areas like Tawi-Tawi and help build a digitally inclusive Philippines.

To learn more about Globe, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/.

DOTR, BSP, DICT, GCash Accelerate Digital Transformation of PH Transport System for Faster, Easier Commutes

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and GCash are set to transform the commuting experience at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) with the launch of multiple digital-enabled payment solutions. The Philippines’ leading finance super app is bringing in a world-class technology that eliminates the need for commuters to queue and purchase physical single-journey tickets, in support of the new Philippine National Standard for Automated Fare Collection System of the DOTr.

This initiative positions the Philippines in the same category as its Southeast Asian neighbors, such as Singapore, which have implemented open-loop ticketing systems in their public transportation networks. This ticketing system reduces friction for commuters, allowing them to use mobile wallets and cards to pay for their rides.

The pilot launch was led by DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon and witnessed by BSP Monetary Board member Walter C. Wassmer, BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan, DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda, and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) president & CEO Lynette Ortiz. GCash, which will power up the secure, contactless digital transactions across the network, is represented by Mynt president and CEO Martha Sazon (the holding company of GCash) and G-Xchange, Inc. president and CEO Ren-Ren Reyes (the mobile wallet operator of GCash)

The newly launched Automated Fare Collection System enables faster, easier journeys for MRT 3 passengers via a tap-in and tap-out method through multiple modes of payment: QR, mobile NFC, and debit/credit cards. All they have to do is open the GCash app, tap the Commute icon to generate a QR code, head to the turnstiles, and tap in the QR to start their journey, then tap out the QR to end their journey to pay for their fare. Commuters using Android mobile phones, in addition, can pay for their ride using the Tap-to-Pay feature of GCash, which is a contactless payment powered by NFC technology. Those who have GCash cards and/or any Visa or Mastercard cards of other banks, including Landbank prepaid cards, can also directly tap them on select turnstiles as a form of ticket for their fares.

DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon, during the launch, invited commuters to use the GCash payments at MRT-3 to experience the convenience of digital payments. "Now, finally, we are here. This is just the beginning. We're working on this to equip all turnstile carousels with this option for various payment modes," Dizon said, adding the digital payment solutions will soon be available in Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 and other mass transport systems.

"One of our core mandates is to make payments safer, secure, efficient, reliable, and more accessible to all. Today, those two goals come together. We're making it easier for people to pay for the transport that helps them move safely, securely, and efficiently," BSP monetary board member Walter C. Wassmer said.

To help ensure the success of this initiative, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said they have been working to enhance internet connectivity at MRT-3, allowing commuters to access the GCash app whenever.

"We need to acknowledge the collaboration with MRT-3. Nu’ng nagbigay ng signal si Sec. Vince, inayos namin ang wiring. Pati sa loob ng bagon, eventually, tinatrabaho na namin ‘yan," DICT secretary Aguda added.

(When Sec. Vince gave the signal, and we fixed the wiring. Eventually, commuters will have free Wifi inside the trains.)

"Thank you very much for your partnership and for putting together a whole new government approach in so far as making sure that we have the infrastructure, the rails, and the acquired services to make sure that this works for the Filipino people," LandBank president Lynette Ortiz said.

To mark the landmark rollout, the officials walked through the GCash-powered turnstiles at the MRT-3 One Ayala Station to test the upgrade in commuter flow firsthand.

"We're so proud and excited to finally launch this service in partnership with the government. It has been a joy working with them because they act fast and are very progressive, and we've experienced it firsthand," said Martha Sazon, president & CEO of Mynt, the holding company of GCash.

“Before, people would line up as early as 4:30 am just to buy a ticket. I hope that with this project, we can help them make their commute faster and more convenient,” Sazon added.

This collaboration highlights a concerted effort of relevant government agencies to digitize public services, reduce friction, and increase accessibility — with private sector partners like GCash playing a key role in delivering practical, scalable solutions. With its vast user base and technical agility, GCash brings trusted innovation to frontline mobility through meaningful integration that benefits everyday commuters.

As the proof of concept rollout advances, DOTr and its partners will monitor commuter feedback, assess system improvements, and explore expansion across additional transit lines. The vision is clear: mobility, connectivity, and dignity should move together—leaving no Filipino behind.

Open the GCash app, tap the Commute button to learn more.

Zoom In on Life with the Vivo X200 FE: See More, Feel Closer

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — In today’s content-driven world, your smartphone camera needs to do more than just take good photos — it needs to transform distant moments into vivid, shareable memories. That’s where the Vivo X200 FE shines. This next-generation smartphone is built for creators who need clarity, reach, and real professional quality in their pockets.

Equipped with a powerful 50MP ZEISS Super Telephoto Camera, the X200 FE is designed to lock in sharp detail from even the farthest distances. Whether you're shooting across a busy street, from the back of a concert crowd, or high above the city, this camera makes it feel like you’re right there — no extra steps required.

Discover Every Detail, Every Distance

Urban explorers and casual photographers alike will love what the X200 FE can reveal. With an incredible 100x zoom and AI Telephoto Enhance, the camera captures vibrant cityscapes, architectural gems, and candid street moments with color-rich precision and sharp focus. Watch it in action here.

Zoom into far-off skyscrapers or snap a moment from a rooftop — and still get crisp, aesthetic shots every time. Its telephoto power brings the city’s character to life in ways you’ve never seen before.

Front Row From the Back Row

Concerts, live shows, and fast-moving events can be tough to capture — but not with the Vivo X200 FE. Featuring Stage Mode, the phone’s telephoto lens and custom algorithms work together to preserve dynamic lighting and fast action without losing facial clarity or color accuracy.

Expect lifelike skin tones, punchy colors, and photos that reflect exactly how the scene felt. Whether it's the glow of a spotlight or the shimmer of a performer’s outfit, this device captures it all — no overexposure, no blur, just pure emotion.

See Far. Feel Near.

From city adventures to unforgettable performances, the Vivo X200 FE is your gateway to seeing life up close — without ever leaving your spot. Get yours now for Php 44,999 at Vivo stores nationwide or through their official website.