𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐙𝐀 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬

𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐙𝐀 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐢 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 — The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has formally partnered with G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), the mobile wallet operator behind GCash, to significantly enhance the speed, security, and convenience of online travel tax refunds for Filipino travelers.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in Makati City, TIEZA will now adopt the GCash Funds Disbursement Service (FDS) to facilitate the real-time crediting of approved travel tax refunds directly into the GCash wallets of eligible passengers.

This modernization initiative aligns with Executive Order No. 170, which mandates the adoption of digital payment systems across government, and Republic Act No. 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009), which empowers TIEZA to institute systems and partnerships that ensure the efficient administration of travel tax collection and refund services.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬

Through the integration of the secure disbursement technology of GCash, passengers approved for refunds will now receive their travel tax reimbursements instantly and seamlessly, eliminating the need for on-site claims or manual bank processing. Notably, the service is offered at no cost to both TIEZA and its clients.

“This partnership underscores our commitment to building tourism together by elevating the quality and efficiency of every touchpoint in the Filipino travel experience,” said TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid. “By integrating sophisticated digital solutions like GCash, we are not simply streamlining the refund process—we are advancing transparency, reinforcing institutional accountability, and setting a higher benchmark for how government and industry can collaborate to meet the expectations of today’s discerning travelers.”

𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥-𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬

Under the partnership, G-Xchange, Inc. will provide the secure digital infrastructure that enables real-time disbursement, supported by robust prefunding and reconciliation mechanisms to safeguard the integrity of public funds.

Cleo Celeste C. Santos, Vice President and Head of GCash Public Sector, emphasized the value of accessible and efficient financial services and the partnership’s impact on public sector digital transformation. “We are proud to support TIEZA in digitizing one of the most important touchpoints for travelers. Real-time refunds through GCash deliver unmatched convenience, speed, and reliability—empowering passengers with a truly modern and frictionless experience.”

“This collaboration reinforces the mission of GCash to make digital financial services easily accessible for every Filipino. By embedding secure, seamless payouts into TIEZA’s processes, we are helping advance a more inclusive, responsive, and future-ready government service ecosystem,” Santos added.

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𝐀 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦

As global and domestic travel continue to rise, the TIEZA–GCash partnership ensures that public-facing services evolve in step with traveler expectations—reflecting a shared commitment to innovation, efficiency, and good governance in the delivery of essential tourism services.

For more information, visit [https://tieza.gov.ph] and follow @TIEZAOfficial on Facebook and @tiezagovph on Instagram and X.

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𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐡

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) is the infrastructure, investment, and asset management arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), mandated to develop, manage, and supervise tourism infrastructure projects and Tourism Enterprise Zones (TEZs) across the country. Through strategic investments in public tourism facilities, flagship destinations, and sustainable development initiatives, TIEZA plays a vital role in enhancing the country's tourism-readiness and the tourists' travel experience seamless and meaningful. TIEZA is committed to helping transform the Philippines into a globally-competitive tourism destination.

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐡

GCash is the Philippines’ #1 Finance Super App and Largest Cashless Ecosystem. 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. Its mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only $5 billion unicorn in the Philippines.

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.

#GCash #TIEZA #TravelTax #CebuHappenings #MandaueHappenings #ManilaHappenings #MindanaoHappenings #FinancialHappenings #PRworks

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