In spite of the current pandemic, we Filipinos still made sure to send our love and support to our loved ones. We made sure that we are always here to show our love and care, that we would provide for them with all of our heart and energy. You may have seen the courageous acts of our kababayans on the evening news, all of them clad in protective clothing and PPEs, straggling along the different barangays and providing a heavy package full of relief goods and daily sustenance. Indeed, many of us Filipinos are the modern angels of our society. You would be forgiven to think that the only frontliners we have would be the doctors, nurses, and the authorities who would usually control the crowd, after all, that’s what you’d usually hear on the news and on social media. But the thing is, anyone who is authorized to go out of their homes and serve the Filipino people may be considered a frontliner as well. Money remittance employees, for example, would brave the risk of the pandemic just so they may process the different transactions within the branch, and in doing so, we would all be able to remit money towards our loved ones who reside in the province. Of course, proper measures are taken to ensure that all of the customers would be protected against the virus, and so far, it has been quite effective, even with the long lines of people who are looking to make their remittances within the day.
It’s all in the numbers
A data released just last year showed the following statistics:
“September remittances are up by 9.3%. Philippines overseas remittances grew by 9.3% in September, while the expectation was -4.3%. After falling by 4.1% in August, this rise is probably due to the rise in migrants sending savings prior to repatriation and the temporary reopening of economies post lockdown.
For the year, Filipinos based abroad sent home a total of $21.9 billion, down 1.4% compared to the same period last year with the central bank expecting remittances to dip by less than 2% for the year. Remittances from land-based migrants, which comprise up to 75% of the total, sent home 10.2% more remittances while sea-based migrants posted their first increase in five months, up 6.5% as global trade picked up after the strict lockdowns in 2Q across major markets.”
Take note that this just pertains to international remittances. The nature of local remittances is yet to be released and taken into account, but judging by the current pandemic and economic standing, you can expect it to be as similar to that of the international data. Yes, many people lost their jobs, but that is exactly the point, their relatives who were able to maintain their jobs would be able to send cash remittances within the timeframe of the pandemic, thus, the numbers (while admittedly lower than last year) may still hold significance within the data once released.
Do remittances still contribute to the growth of the country, even during the pandemic?
Yes, they still do. If that still sounds unbelievable at this point, let us elaborate with this statement released last year:
“Remittance flows contracted by 19.3% in May but have since stabilized, posting growth for 4 out of the last 5 months. Remittances managed to expand despite the repatriation of more than 300,000 OFWs who were sent home after job losses in their host countries. The surprising resilience of remittances in the face of the pandemic may be traced to the appreciation trend of PHP, which is currently stronger by 5.5%. Funding the Philippine domestic consumption needs of their families, OFs may have been forced to compensate for the dollar’s relative weakness against PHP by sending home more remittances in dollar terms.”
Take note of the second sentence, “remittances managed to expand despite the repatriation of more than 300,000 OFWs.” As long as the cash flow maintains its momentum, remittances will never fail to provide for our country, no matter how little the numbers may be, and even then, such a small number would still hold a great value in the long run.
That’s good and all, but which remittance center can I trust the most, in terms of quality service and safety?
There is no better remittance center than Cebuana Lhuillier. They have their Pera Padala service, an easy, safe, and convenient way to send and receive money within and outside the Philippines. You may claim the money as soon as the sender completes the remittance process in the branch. You may visit 2,500 branches nationwide and its wide network of accredited international partners.
Okay, are there any requirements? How do I send cash to my loved ones?
It’s actually very easy. The following is a step-by-step guide on how to remit money with Cebuana Lhuillier:
- You may visit any Cebuana Lhuillier branch and fill out the Pera Padala form.
- Then, present the accomplished form, valid ID, and 24k card (if you are a 24k cardholder) to the branch personnel.
- Give the total amount to be paid.
- Secure the Pera Padala form (and count the change received, if there is any).
Provide the 10-digit control number to the receiver/beneficiary of money transfer.
Understandably, even your relatives from outside the country may have been affected by the virus. In such case, they’d also need financial assistance to get by for their needs. Luckily, Cebuana Lhuillier’s Remittance service extends beyond borders.
How do I send money from the Philippines towards international receivers/beneficiaries (via Moneygram and Western Union)?
- The same high-standard approach is applied with international remittances, hence, you can expect that no scam can get through whenever you’re sending money abroad as well:
- Visit any Cebuana Lhuillier branch and fill out the Pera Padala form.
- Present the accomplished form, valid ID, and 24k card (if you are a 24k cardholder) to the branch personnel.
- Give the total amount to be paid.
- Secure the Pera Padala form (and count the change received, if there is any).
- Provide the 10-digit control number to the receiver/beneficiary.
Regardless if your family, friends, or loved ones are here or abroad, you can expect that Cebuana Lhuillier’s Money Remittance Service can reach them, come rain or shine. Send them a ray of hope during the pandemic and be the light that shines all throughout.