The recent COVID-19 event caught everyone off guard. What was once a small blink on the international news turned into a sudden case of the pandemic, much so that everyone’s stuck right at home. Of course, we were all given our outdoor schedules to fetch a few supplies every once in a while (all are designated days within a week, depending on your Barangay’s announcement), however, the act of stocking up on rations is just one of the many necessary activities that the average Filipino does during such trying times. We Filipinos always had the “Bayanihan” principle, the motivation to help others whenever they’re in need.
This isn’t limited to our loved ones as well, as you may have heard of strangers giving a share of their supplies to the homeless during the evening news. Indeed, we are bound by our moral obligation to help others, no matter the cost. When there is a pandemic or economic collapse, we just tend to feel the need to reach out and lift others to safety, much like how a lifeguard lifts a drowning straggler. Now, the act of helping our fellows isn’t limited to providing them with clothes and supplies. No, as we can also provide them with financial assistance. If, however, you happen to have friends or loved ones in the province and you want to send over a financial assistance, you may understand the potential concerns in doing such a simple task. How on earth would you be able to send over the money?
Thanks to the modernization of money transfer processes, these concerns have been already dealt with, leaving you with nothing but convenience and assurance that any amount that you’d send over would be received in full. Not convinced yet? Here are just a few perfect examples on ways on how to immediately send money to your loved ones:
1. Via Your Local Money Transfer Channels
Understandably, our government made the sudden, yet, efficient decision of closing down establishments for the time being. This was done to control the spread of the virus, flatten the curve, as it may. The only establishments left often are groceries, pharmacies, food markets, hospitals, etc. All of these essential channels are needed to provide nourishment and care for the people during the pandemic. Now, one of the more notable establishments left open during these trying times was none other than the local money transfer branches. The thing is, the government understood that we Filipinos are heroes in our own right, always helping out those who are in need, even when we ourselves are affected by the current situation. This might be the reason why money transfer branches were considered as an essential establishment, due to the fact that it has been identified as a resource of assistance from one Filipino to another, and indeed, it has cemented its own reputation over the years. Why wouldn’t it be? Even the money transfer process is quick and easy. People from Manila may just line up (while observing social distancing, of course), fill out a short form, submit the cash assistance, take note of the control number, and send that control number to their loved ones via text message. It’s that simple. Of course, it doesn’t come without its own disadvantages as well. For one, people would still need to go outdoors in spite of the epidemic. The same goes for the ones who are going to receive the money. They need to reach their nearest local money transfer branch in order to present the control number and other important details. And even before that, they would still need to line up properly, again, while observing proper social distancing.
2. Via Online Money Transfer
While ATM machines were left functional during the pandemic, so as to provide withdrawable cash for everyone’s needs, many of our local bank branches were closed without further notice. As of the writing of this article, only a select few were opened to the public, and even then, these branches were far from the urban landscape of Manila. Luckily, modernization has its perks. Even before the pandemic, people were already using the bank’s official apps in order to transact and process their cash, may it be for payments or for money transfers. The current situation is no different, with many people using the same app in order to send money to their loved ones without ever needing to go out of their homes. With just a few clicks, the amounts would be received by people from miles away. However, it also comes with its own disadvantage. To start off, the one receiving the money should already have a bank account within the same bank as the sender. There is a leeway for some other banks, but that isn’t always the case, as some are very strict with their financial policies. Another possible concern is that the ones receiving the money would still need to go outdoors in order to withdraw the amount. This may not be much of a worry, however, especially if proper precautions are taken when lining up for the ATM machine.
3. Via Online Money Remittance
This is somewhat similar to the process above; however, the good news is that this has more flexibility within it. For example, while online banking transfers require the recipient to have a bank account within the same bank as the one sending the money, online money remittance would not force the recipient with such technicality. Online money remittance is done via an app as well, but instead of an online banking app, it is done with an online pawnshop and money remittance app. A perfect example would be the eCebuana App from Cebuana Lhuillier. It’s fairly easy to use as well, with a lot of options. First of all, the sender needs to have an active MicroSavings account to enroll in the eCebuana App. Once enrolled, the sender can either choose to send the amount towards a money remittance branch, towards a Micro Savings account, or towards the recipient’s own bank account. Again, this is more convenient and flexible than an online money transfer. The only downside may be that the recipient would need to go outdoors to withdraw the amount from an ATM or a money remittance branch, but the process is fast and reliable so they wouldn’t be outdoors for a long time, reducing any risk of being caught up in the pandemic.
If the sender has not yet availed a MicroSavings account and he/she is not able to download the eCebuana App on mobile due to OS restrictions of the app, the sender can now try Cebuana Lhuillier’s Remit From Home. Through this service, you will be able to transfer money locally. All you have to do is visit https://remitfromhome.cebuanalhuillier.com to send your money transfer requirement. This service is available for customers residing in the Philippines; Monday to Saturday from 9AM to 4PM.
So, these are just some of the many ways to transfer money towards your loved ones. Pick whichever would work best for you and plan your every move before making a decision. At this point, every centavo counts use it well and manage it wisely.