Sending and receiving money to the Philippines just got smarter, cheaper and easier under a new remittance product launched this month.
The Filipino-Australian community can finally avail of the Western Union Direct to Bank (D2B) product, which allows the sender to remit directly to participating banks in the Philippines.
As a launch offer, senders can remit as much as $200 to a bank account anywhere back in the Philippines at the flat rate of $5 per transaction.
Western Union hosted a Filipino-Australian media luncheon at the Pinoy Lounge in Blacktown and sponsored the WOW Blacktown Multicultural Fair as part of the new product launch. Philippine moviestar Gabby Concepcion, the global endorser of the product to the Filipino market, came to Australia specifically for both events.
D2B is a landmark change from the way Western Union allowed people to send or receive money in the past, which was primarily from one agent to another.
In addition, because some banks in the Philippines are open on weekends, funds can be credited to a bank account (one of 59 banking institutions) anywhere in the country within minutes - or within hours - depending on the location.
Western Union is the largest money transfer service provider in the Philippines and has been operating there for decades. As such, the company has given back to the community with the Philippines now one of the top funded countries in Asia Pacific under Western Union's Our World, Our Family philanthropic program.
For example, in 2010, the company has provided social services and education to 1,200 street children in Manila through Childhope Asia Philippines.
For more information, go to www.westernunion.com or call1800 501 500.
Photos courtesy of Darryl O'brien
The Australian Filipina Disclosure: Western Union was a primary sponsor of Michelle Baltazar's "Love, Manila" book launch and was an advertiser at Radio Sandigan (www.radio2rdj.com) where Michelle is one of the radio hosts.