GXI, mobile operator of GCash CEO champions digital finance as nation-building pathway at Manila Tech Summit 2025

Written by: Kenneth del Rosario

Digital payments have become essential infrastructure—“digital trust rails” that connect people to inclusion, opportunity, and economic growth.

This is the main takeaway of GCash operator G-Xchange Inc. President and CEO Oscar Enrico Reyes, Jr.’s keynote address, “From Transactions to Transformation: Digital Payments and the New Face of Nation-Building,” delivered at the Manila Tech Summit 2025, where he urged Filipinos to see digital finance as more than just a convenience.

“Physical highways connect places, while digital rails connect people to opportunities, safety and hope,” Reyes said. “The strongest bridges today are built on trust, technology and innovation.”

Organized by the Fintech Alliance Philippines and co-presented by GCash, the summit brought together more than a hundred local and international speakers, from global tech leaders to policymakers. With the theme “Forging into Global Order: Risks and Opportunities Redefined,” the event underscored how digital innovation, financial inclusion, and trust in technology are reshaping economies and societies.

Digital finance as a bridge

In his speech, Reyes recalled the journey of GCash over the past two decades, from introducing the country’s first e-wallet to pioneering QR payments and mobile-based financial services. He described the company’s evolution from a simple payments app to an “everyday super hub” offering lending, insurance, investments, and digital lifestyle services.

The COVID-19 pandemic, he said, accelerated the adoption of mobile wallets and proved that digital tools could be lifelines in times of crisis. “What was once a wallet in a pocket became a powerful tool in a mobile phone,” Reyes said, pointing out how GCash helped millions transition from cash dependency to digital transactions.

But while adoption has surged, significant gaps persist in access to digital finance, formal credit, and investments. Reyes stressed that addressing these gaps is critical to inclusive nation-building.

“At GCash, we look at these items because true nation-building leaves no one behind,” he said. He cited initiatives such as the partnership with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), which digitized payouts for farmers, and the commitment of GCash to offer Sha’riah-compliant financial products for Muslim communities.

For Reyes, the mission goes beyond technology. “We are not just in the business of finance,” he said. “We are in the business of building hope in every stakeholder. Together, let’s build a nation one digital transaction, one story at a time.”

The President’s call for inclusive innovation

Guest of honor President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted how technology is reshaping Filipino lives—from shorter queues and faster government transactions to giving farmers, teachers, and entrepreneurs greater access to opportunities.

Marcos pointed to the rapid growth of the country’s digital economy, valued at P2.25 trillion in 2024—about 8.5% of GDP—and credited it for generating 11.3 million jobs. He also highlighted ongoing government programs such as the National Fiber Backbone, the Philippine identification system, and the Wi-Fi 4.0 program for schools, all of which aim to expand digital access nationwide.

Yet, he cautioned about the risks of fraud, scams, and even job displacement due to artificial intelligence. Ultimately, he framed technology as a tool for empowerment. “We envision a Philippines where every Filipino can reach their full potential and where new technologies open wider possibilities for all,” Marcos said.

Fintech for good, growth, and trust

Meanwhile, in his opening remarks, Fintech Alliance Philippines President Lito Villanueva emphasized the country’s role in shaping the digital future.

Villanueva outlined the group’s 4T Framework—tech for good, growth, all, and trust—as a guide for responsible innovation. He stressed consumer protection, equal access, and industry integrity as non-negotiable principles, noting that the alliance’s 130 corporate members drive 95% of the country’s digital financial transactions.

From the President’s call for inclusive innovation to Reyes’ vision of digital finance as the new nation-building infrastructure, the summit captured a shared conviction: technology must serve not just the connected and the urban, but farmers, workers, and communities often left behind.

As Reyes said, the story of nation-building in this decade will no longer be defined solely by bridges and highways. Instead, it will be measured by digital rails—rails of trust, access, and opportunity—carrying Filipinos toward a more inclusive future.

ADVT.

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