𝐆𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐇

𝐆𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐇

GCash shares win with 16.2 million GForest users

MANILA, Philippines, 21 March 2024 – GCash, the Philippines' leading finance app, through its GForest feature, is the 2023 National Winner of the Energy Globe Award in the Philippines. This recognition serves as a testament to GCash's commitment to environmental sustainability and its innovative approach to fostering positive change.

The Energy Globe Awards is a recognition given by the Austrian Embassy, through Advantage Austria, to recognize outstanding initiatives that contribute to sustainability and environmental

protection. GForest stood out in the 'Earth' category for its remarkable efforts in reforesting critical areas and promoting environmental awareness among millions of users.

“Energy Globe is awarded to the world’s best environmental projects and honors innovative solutions to environmental problems. We cannot think of a better fit to receive this award than GForest which over a few years managed to gain support from more than 16.2 million members and virtually planted 3.8 million trees," said Christina Stieber, Advantage Austria Commercial

Counsellor.

The GForest program within the GCash app is a groundbreaking initiative that incentivizes users to engage in tree planting. Users earn green energy points with their digital transactions in-app, which they can use to plant virtual trees. These translate into tangible contributions to reforestation efforts, as GCash collaborates with environmental organizations to plant real trees in designated areas. By integrating gamification and environmental awareness, GForest

encourages users to embrace sustainable practices while actively taking part in initiatives to combat deforestation and promote environmental conservation.

“We optimize technology to solve different challenges that Filipinos experience every day—and with over 94 million Filipinos that have tried GCash, we have the reach to maximize tech for

good.

GForest is one of these breakthroughs—an easy, interactive, and free way to plant a tree, which we created specifically to contribute to rebuilding Philippine forests,” stated Winsley Bangit, Vice President and Head of New Businesses Group, GCash.

Since its inception in 2019, the GForest program has achieved remarkable results, including the planting of over 2.7 million actual trees, covering over 11,600 hectares, with the help of its16.2million green heroes.

𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

With only 6% of the country's land covered in rainforest, urgent action was needed to combat the effects of logging and resource extraction. Recognizing the importance of preserving and restoring forests, GCash introduced GForest in 2019 as the first-ever sustainability feature by a fintech company in the Philippines.

"Our drive behind the GForest program stems from a commitment to sustainability across three essential pillars: environmental, social, and governance impact. Through empowering users to engage in tree planting initiatives via our GForest feature, we aspire to elevate awareness of environmental conservation, promote financial inclusion, and effect positive change in the daily lives of Filipinos," said CJ Alegre, Sustainability Head of GCash.

The scope of the GForest program includes planting native trees, collaborating with key partners such as the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., Friends of HOPE, Inc., World Wildlife Fund for Nature Philippines, and ABS-CBN Foundation; and engaging local communities in reforestation efforts. Through workshops and partnerships, GCash ensured the sustainable management of planting sites and gave economic opportunities to farmers involved in tree planting activities.

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐡

GCash is the Philippines’ #1 Finance App. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones.

GCash’s mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a whollyowned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only duacorn in the Philippines which is a part of the country's leading digital solutions platform, Globe Group.

GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.

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