Cebu — The city's grassroots business community is receiving a major boost in financial literacy and digital expertise this week as GCash brings its "WaisTindera" financial literacy caravan to the city for the first time. Held on July 15, 2026, at the Barangay Suba Basketball Court Gym in Cebu City, the half-day event is designed to equip local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—particularly sari-sari store owners and micro-entrepreneurs—with the practical skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
Practical Lessons for Business Growth
The WaisTindera program is centered on the idea that small businesses are the backbone of the Philippine economy, yet many entrepreneurs still face significant hurdles in financial management and access to credit. During the Cebu leg of the caravan, participants engaged with interactive booths that provided simplified, real-world lessons on essential financial concepts. These stations covered "The 4Ds" of budgeting, the principles of responsible borrowing through Ang Mabuting Utang, simple saving strategies under Sa Savings, and critical tips on how to Beat the Scammers to protect their hard-earned income from online fraud. By meeting entrepreneurs right in their own neighborhoods, the program ensures that even the smallest vendors gain the confidence to make informed financial decisions.
Digital Tools for "Dagdag Kita"
Beyond financial education, the caravan acts as a gateway for small stores to integrate digital services into their daily operations, a strategy aimed at generating extra income, or dagdag kita. Through the introduction of GCash Pera Outlet and GCash Card services, store owners learned how to transform their shops into community hubs that offer cash-in, cash-out, and bills payment services. Kevin Yu, Head of B2B Lending at Fuse Financing Inc. (the lending arm of GCash), was also on hand to discuss how digital lending solutions are helping MSMEs overcome traditional barriers to credit. These tools are designed to streamline operations, allowing store owners to track sales more effectively and participate more fully in the formal digital economy.
A Commitment to Financial Inclusion
The arrival of the WaisTindera caravan in Cebu is part of a broader national push by GCash to support the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in its financial inclusion agenda. As the country celebrates MSME Month, this initiative underscores the importance of bringing financial services closer to the grassroots level. Since its launch in November 2025, the WaisTindera program has already reached thousands of micro-entrepreneurs across Metro Manila and Mindanao, proving that digital enablement is a powerful tool for community resilience. By combining education with accessible technology, GCash aims to build a more inclusive marketplace where every small vendor has the opportunity to scale their business and secure a more stable future.
