GCash is rolling out a series of financial relief initiatives to help Filipinos cope with the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and rising living expenses. These include zero transaction fees for Middle East transfers, free offline cash-in services, free health insurance with load purchases, and a 50% fare discount for MRT-3 commuters.

These initiatives reflect GCash’s continued commitment to supporting Filipinos both locally and abroad by making everyday financial transactions more affordable, accessible, and seamless.

Zero Fees for Middle East Transactions Extended Until April 30, 2026

To help ease the financial burden on overseas Filipinos and their families, GCash has extended zero transaction fees for transfers to and from the Middle East until April 30, 2026.

This allows Filipinos in affected regions to stay connected with loved ones and receive financial support without added costs, supporting the national government’s ongoing efforts to prioritize the welfare and safety of overseas Filipinos.

Users in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan can enjoy waived fees for bank transfers to the Philippines, as well as other transactions such as GLoad and GBills.

The waived transaction fees will be automatically credited back to users’ GCash wallets through in-app cashback. Users will receive an in-app notification once the cashback has been successfully credited, with no registration required.

Meanwhile, GCash users in the Philippines can also send money for free to loved ones in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman through GCash International Transfer.

Free Offline Cash-In at Partner Merchants Nationwide

To help ease the financial strain caused by rising fuel prices and daily transportation costs, GCash is also offering free and instant over-the-counter cash-in of up to PHP 8,000 per month at branches of select partner merchants nationwide.

Users can conveniently cash in at partner outlets including Puregold, Palawan Pawnshop, Lawson, SM, MRT stations, Uncle John’s, and Robinsons.

Additional partner outlets include Action.Able, Ayannah, Bayad Center, DA5, Dayon, ECPay, eTAP, ExpressPay, Growsari, iBayad, LBC, Pay&Go, Perahub, RD Pawnshop, Southstar Drug, Tambunting Kristal, Tambunting Amazing Gold, TouchPay, TrueMoney, Villarica Pawnshop, and ZoomPay.

With zero fees and real-time processing, users can quickly add funds to their GCash wallets for daily expenses and essential purchases.

Free Health Insurance with Every Load Purchase

As an added layer of protection, GCash, through its digital insurance platform GInsure, is providing free health insurance to eligible users every time they buy prepaid mobile load for themselves through GLoad in the GCash app.

The insurance is underwritten by FPG Insurance and aims to make insurance protection more accessible, especially as rising oil prices continue to increase the cost of living for many Filipinos.

With every eligible mobile load purchase for any telco brand, users receive:

  • Accidental death coverage worth PHP 10,000, which can accumulate up to PHP 30,000 through up to three separate eligible load purchases
  • Income assistance worth PHP 500 per day if hospitalized due to illness or accidents, up to PHP 2,500 for a maximum of five days
  • Disablement benefits worth PHP 10,000, providing additional financial support for users or their beneficiaries

For those seeking broader protection, GCash also offers affordable insurance options through GInsure, including health coverage starting at PHP 69 per month and accident insurance from as low as PHP 15, with coverage of up to PHP 500,000.

50% MRT-3 Fare Discount Available Through GCash

GCash is also supporting commuters through the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) 50% discounted MRT-3 fare matrix, which took effect on March 23, 2026 in response to rising consumer prices.

Passengers can easily avail of the discount through the GCash app using GCash Commute QR, Tap to Pay for NFC-enabled Android phones, or the GCash Visa Card.

This allows commuters to proceed directly to train platforms without lining up at ticket booths, making travel faster and more convenient.

Since GCash payments were introduced in MRT-3 in July 2025, the cashless payment option has helped commuters save as much as 30 minutes per day by allowing them to skip single-journey ticket lines during rush hours.

Making Everyday Transactions Easier for Filipinos

With these financial relief measures, GCash aims to provide practical support to Filipinos navigating economic uncertainty both at home and abroad.

The company said it will continue to closely monitor developments in the Middle East and assess whether further extensions of these initiatives will be necessary.

For more information, visit www.gcash.com.