Cebu — GCash recently launched its "Wais Tindera" financial literacy caravan in Cebu, marking the program's debut in the region to support local entrepreneurs. Held this week in July 2026, the initiative brought together over 200 micro, small, and medium enterprises, including sari-sari store owners and street vendors, to receive hands-on training in financial management and digital tools. By providing these resources, the program aims to help local merchants navigate the evolving digital economy and scale their operations effectively.
Practical Tools for Business Growth
The caravan serves as a Financial Literacy and Business Literacy program designed to help small entrepreneurs move beyond day-to-day survival. During the Cebu leg, participants attended interactive sessions that covered essential business skills such as budgeting, pricing, inventory management, and sales tracking. By providing these foundational lessons, the program aims to help micro-entrepreneurs make informed business decisions and manage their daily cash flow more effectively. This educational approach ensures that store owners have the necessary competence to track their earnings and maintain a healthy profit margin in a competitive market.
Promoting Responsible Borrowing and Financial Health
A major focus of the caravan was addressing the risks of predatory lending, as many small retailers still rely on informal lenders that often charge high interest rates. Experts from Fuse Financing Inc., the lending arm of GCash, educated attendees on how to assess their actual need for credit, understand loan terms, and borrow within their capacity to repay. This shift toward formal lending solutions is supported by AI-powered credit scoring, which helps small business owners build a financial track record and gain access to safer, more sustainable funding. By choosing formal credit channels, merchants can protect their capital and reinvest in their business inventory with much greater peace of mind.
Digital Transformation for Neighborhood Merchants
Beyond financial advice, the program introduced digital tools designed to turn neighborhood stores into tech-enabled community hubs for the local population. Merchants learned how to use platforms like GCash Pera Outlet Plus, which allows them to offer essential services like cash-in, cash-out, and bills payment to their neighbors, creating new, reliable revenue streams. These efforts are part of a broader campaign to close the digital trust gap and support the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ financial inclusion agenda, ultimately helping Cebu’s local businesses thrive. As more stores adopt these digital integrations, they become more resilient and better equipped to provide convenience to their communities while securing their own financial future.
