Education and skills development are among the keys to financial inclusion of all sectors, including women. And as the economy becomes increasingly digital, there is a focus on technology when it comes to gender-responsive technical vocational education and training.
The Philippines' leading finance super app and largest cashless ecosystem, GCash, shared how it empowers women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields at the TESDA Gender and Development (GAD) International Webinar, which explored gender-responsive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
In the discussion titled, "Enabling More Women In STEM Fields and in the Digital Ecosystem", GCash Chief Strategy Officer Rowena Zamora highlighted how crucial it is to have more women in technology, especially for a finance platform like GCash. Women make up 57% of GCash users. Two out of three GSave users are also women, and of this number, 7 out of 10 come from outside Metro Manila. Women are also leading among users of GCash's Pera Outlet program, which transforms sari-sari stores in the country into GCash hubs where owners can earn an additional monthly income of up to PHP10,000.
These statistics underscore the need to empower more women in the tech space and even in local communities, where there is limited knowledge on how women can drive better gender-based services.
"Beyond financial services, we recognize there is still so much more we can do to uplift Filipinas, especially in the midst of an emerging and very promising Philippine technology industry," Zamora said. "Gender norms in certain industries are deeply rooted in culture. A lack of women and technology starts not just at home, but also in school, where fewer women enroll in STEM courses, perhaps due to misconceptions that technology is only for men and the lack of visibility and representation of women technology leaders."
"For this very reason, we have made a conscious effort at GCash to really double down on promoting women in technology. Because as we know, when we give more women more opportunities, great things can happen," added Zamora.
Some of the training GCash has provided to women communities include a Data Science Scholarship Program in partnership with For The Women Foundation, which increased the new job placement rate of scholars by 76%; and Elevate GAIL (Generative AI Learning) with Connected Women, which equipped nearly 100 women with skills in basic AI principles and application.
"Most of the For The Women Foundation scholars are not really into technology. Some are teachers, some are secretaries," shared GCash Vice President for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Gilda Maquilan at a separate panel discussion. "But because of the training, there are more opportunities in Machine Learning and Data Labeling that provide alternative options for women, especially in the tech space."
GCash has also been reaching out to schools, such as the University of the Philippines Diliman with the GTalks program, and the Far Eastern University Manila through the DICT’s Girls in ICT Day Event – seeking to empower female students in the STEM fields.
Moving forward, it is GCash's goal to reach out to girls and women in the provinces, spreading the conversation about women in tech, as the company broadens digital financial inclusion across the Philippines.
"Women comprise half of the world's population. So empowering them and enabling them access to livelihood also empower families and communities. It is a viable solution to ending poverty cycles," Maquilan said. "GCash is entrenched in the community– in the C2DE demographic and among women–because we start from our mission of Finance For All."
"By working together across sectors, government agencies, educational institutions, NGOs, and the private sector, we can create more comprehensive and effective programs,” said Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez. "In the context of TVET, this means ensuring that vocational training is not only accessible but also tailored to the needs of women. That involves creating pathways for women to enter fields traditionally dominated by men and supporting them through mentorship and networking opportunities."
"In essence, gender-responsive TVET is not just about educational reform, but a critical movement towards equality, economic advancement, and social progress," said Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission. "Investing in women translates directly into investing in the future of the Philippines."