Mindanao's push toward digital governance earned national recognition at the 5th GCash Digital Excellence Awards (GDEA) on February 19th at the Grand Hyatt Manila, with five institutions, including a groundbreaking honoree from Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), cited among 45 awardees nationwide for measurably improving how citizens access and pay for public services.

Carrying the theme "Recognizing Digital Pioneers: Empowering the Public Sector for a Modern, Inclusive Philippines," the GDEA gathered local government units and national agencies that have gone beyond policy commitments to deliver measurable change, modernizing how communities pay fees, access utilities, and engage with public services. For Mindanao, where distance and uneven infrastructure have long complicated service delivery, that change carries particular significance.

Honorees include the Municipality of Manolo Fortich, the Davao City Water District, Valencia City in Bukidnon, the City Government of Davao, the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development – BARMM, and the EODB and EBOSS Forum of ARTA Eastern Mindanao, which received the Champion for Digital Advocacy and Connectivity Award.

These institutions were recognized for enabling digital payments for local fees and utilities, expanding online transaction channels, and improving service access in communities where in-person government transactions have long been logistically difficult.

Mynt Chairman Ernest Cu credited the kind of sustained collaboration that made this level of progress possible across the country. 

"2025 was truly a year where GCash doubled down on its commitment through partnership with the government in advancing digitalization in our country. We are moving beyond ear access to delivering world-class innovations that people use daily. We could not have reached these heights alone. Together, we have brought strengthened fiscal management, streamlined disbursements, and connections to the LGU," he said.

The GDEA recognized institutions across multiple categories, reflecting different stages of digital adoption. The Digital Breakthrough Growth Award went to first-year adopters, while the Excellence in Digital Transformation Award honored agencies with sustained growth in digital transactions from 2022 to 2025. Other citations covered Healthcare, Education, and Utility Efficiency, financial inclusion, long-term GCash partnerships, and public market digitalization, including the Palengke Digital Breakthrough Growth Award and the Champion for Digital Advocacy and Connectivity Award.

For Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Ernesto Perez, the value of these recognitions is best measured at the transactional level. 

"Digital excellence within government rests on tangible results experienced by individuals and enterprises. It is seen in faster transactions, simplified requirements, dependable payment channels, and platforms that reach communities regardless of geography or circumstance. Through this initiative, GCash and ARTA continue to champion the goals by promoting ease of doing business, enhancing digital payment systems, and fostering stronger collaboration between government and the private sector," he emphasized.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reports that over 97% of government-to-government and government-to-employee transactions are now processed digitally, while retail digital payments account for more than 57% of total transaction volume nationwide.

"We are one with the government in the mission to serve every Filipino. Everything we do is anchored in our shared vision of finance for all. Every leader here tonight is a testament to the belief that no Filipino should be left behind in the digital economy," concluded GCash VP and Head of Public Sector Cleo Santos.

Through its recognition of these five Mindanao institutions, GCash reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that digital financial access extends to every corner of the Philippines, especially the communities that need it most.