Nelson Morales

Filipino freelancers push for fast, fair payments

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ABS-CBN News

<div style="line-height:1"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176457329415920251125021152_2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Photo source: Sarah Herrera, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo source: Sarah Herrera, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height:1"><br/></div><p style="line-height:1">Filipino digital freelancers continue to gain recognition for their skills in marketing, graphic design, content creation, virtual assistance, multimedia editing, and other online services.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">A digital freelancer offers services online, either locally or internationally, according to Louise Jen Manalo, a digital marketer whose clients are based in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Freelance work may be lucrative, and some freelancers earn six-figure paychecks depending on their clients.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Freelancing, however, presents challenges. Income may vary from month to month, delayed payments remain common, and handling US dollar transactions at times creates additional hurdles.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Dana Krystella Navales, a multimedia editor, content creator, and remote work consultant, values the flexibility provided by freelancing. &quot;I am not tied to one place. I do not have to clock in and out,&quot; said Navales.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">&quot;Payments are one of the biggest hassles. Transfer fees, transaction fees, and exchange rates could take up to 11 percent of my sweldo,&quot; shed added.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><div style="line-height:1"><strong>National support for freelancers</strong></div><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">A roundtable titled &quot;Shaping the Future of Borderless Work&quot; took place on November 21 in BGC, where freelancers and government agencies discussed solutions to everyday challenges.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Freelancers Dana Navales and Louise Manalo shared their difficulties with delayed payments, unstable income, and handling US dollar transactions. GCash and various government agencies explored ways to make cross-border payments fast, safe, and accessible.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Representatives from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council, convened by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), joined the discussion.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">The DICT reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the country&#x27;s growing freelance sector. Undersecretary Sarah Sison introduced the project of the agency, Trabahong Digital, which equips Filipinos with essential digital skills for online employment.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">&quot;Trabahong Digital gives every Filipino a chance to join the digital economy, whether you are just starting or already freelancing. The President has committed to eight million digital jobs by 2028. We want Filipinos ready for those opportunities.&quot; The program provides training and mentorship to help freelancers expand their client base, earn in dollars, and work from any location.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">The PCID supports freelancers by offering guidance, roadmaps, and programs that strengthen creative skills and connect Filipino talent with new opportunities. &quot;The PCID roadmap ensures that freelancers can make the most of their talents now and build their business for the future,&quot; said Paolo Federico Ramos, Deputy Executive Director of the PCID.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas continues to make cross-border payments fast, safe, and transparent through Project Nexus. The initiative links instant payment systems in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and India, enabling freelancers to receive payments from abroad almost instantly.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">&quot;Someday, when you open your bank account or e-wallet, you only need to choose from a drop-down list of countries, and you will instantly be able to send money to other countries,&quot; said Ailyn Lau of BSP.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><div style="line-height:1"><strong>GCash Virtual US account: Simplifying payments</strong></div><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Roughly five million Filipinos rely on freelance income. Payment delays and extra fees have become recurring frustrations, which makes fast and accessible USD transactions important.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">GCash introduced the GCash Virtual US account to help address these concerns. The feature gives freelancers the ability to receive US dollars directly into their GCash wallet and convert the funds to Philippine pesos.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">&quot;Freelancers usually receive payments in US dollars, but they need the money in pesos since their daily expenses are here in the Philippines. The GCash Virtual US account allows them to create a US account through the app, receive US dollars directly into the wallet, and convert the funds into Philippine pesos whenever they choose,&quot; said Paul Albano, GCash International General Manager.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Albano emphasized that the foreign exchange rate is transparent, with no hidden charges, and funds may be converted immediately.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">The BSP highlighted its partnership with GCash to provide freelancers with easy and secure financial options.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">&quot;We are focused on maintaining safe, efficient, and reliable payment systems. Innovations such as the GCash Virtual US account give freelancers and citizens more ways to manage their money, and we work closely with partners like GCash to ensure that these solutions remain secure,&quot; said Lau.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Manalo and Navales expressed their satisfaction with the new feature. </p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Manalo said that it will simplify her workflow. &quot;I no longer need three to five apps. I will receive my sweldo here, already converted to pesos, and I can use it to pay my bills.&quot;</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">&quot;When I heard about it, I was very excited. Delays in payment are common, and the uncertainty makes it more stressful. GCash ensures that you receive the money within one to three business days, which is ideal for freelancers without stable monthly income,&quot; Navales said.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">The feature benefits not only freelancers, but also overseas Filipino workers and micro, small, and medium enterprises.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">&quot;That allows the freelancer, the overseas Filipino family, and the micro, small, and medium enterprise to keep more of what they have earned so that they can spend it back in the economy and improve their quality of life,&quot; said Albano.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Setting up a GCash Virtual US account involves three steps:</p><p style="line-height:1">1. Open the GCash app and tap the US Virtual Account button on the dashboard.</p><p style="line-height:1">2. Provide consent, a valid ID, and a selfie.</p><p style="line-height:1">3. Receive the Virtual US Account number, which may be shared with clients or family abroad. Incoming US dollars may be converted to pesos anytime at the displayed FX rate.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><div style="line-height:1"><strong>From a freelancer point of view</strong></div><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Navales believes that freelancing in the Philippines continues to grow. &quot;Do not undervalue yourself and always seek to upskill,&quot; she advises newly graduated individuals considering freelance work.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Manalo plans to introduce the GCash Virtual US account to her 41,000-member Facebook community.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">&quot;If I hold another free webinar, I will include this feature, so my members do not feel overwhelmed or confused about how to receive their money,&quot; said Manalo.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">GCash views the initiative as a way to support the freelancers who continue to elevate Filipino talent on the global stage.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">&quot;Filipino freelancers demonstrate strong skills, talent, and capability. We need to deliver solutions that match those strengths, address their pain points, and enable them to receive their hard-earned money safely and securely in their GCash wallets,&quot; said Albano.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">To learn more about GCash Virtual US account, visit their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gcashofficial" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>. </p><div style="line-height:1"><br/></div>

<p>Freelancers may now get paid in US dollars and convert it to Philippine pesos with a system that was put up through the initiative of the private and government sector.</p>

Freelancers may now get paid in US dollars and convert it to Philippine pesos with a system that was put up through the initiative of the private and government sector.

Filipino freelancers push for fast, fair payments

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Filipino freelancers push for fast, fair payments

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Published December 22, 2025 04:11 PM PHT

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