PH remittance businesses band together for APPRISE
On a rare occasion, the Philippine remittance industry recently gathered to revive and rebuild the Association of Philippine Private Remittance Service Companies, Inc. (APPRISE), an organization founded ten years ago to unite, protect, and promote the interest, welfare, and the advancement of non-bank money transfer service providers and their clientele.
The newly elected officers, led by new APPRISE President and Cebuana Lhuillier Services Corp. Senior Executive Vice President Philippe Andre Lhuillier, were introduced to the stakeholders and presented the organization's plans and projects.
“APPRISE was established for a good cause in 2006. However, it was inactive for years due to several factors. But now that the remittance industry in the country has proven its stability and now plays an important part in our country's economy, we felt that it is now the perfect time to revive APPRISE and re-establish its goals and vision. As one of the major remittance service providers, I believe our voices need to be heard more and be involved in government and nationwide practices, rules, and regulations—all for the advancement and protection of our interest and the clients we serve,” Lhuillier said.
Other officials of the new APPRISE include iRemit President and COO Harris Jacildo as secretary, Ouryes Corp. CEO William Martin Cu-Unjieng as treasurer, Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, Peragram Inc. President Spencer Chua, and Pinoy Express Hatid Padala Services, Inc. President Armando Dayrit as Board of Directors, and Atty. Reynaldo Geronimo as assistant corporate secretary.
With BSP Supervision and Examination Sub-sector III Managing Director Restituto Cruz as guest speaker, the event was also attended by 65 other high-ranking officials and representatives from various money remittance service providers in the country such as iRemit, Ouryes Corp., Pinoy Express Hatid Padala Services, Inc., Palawan Pawnshop, Ok Remit, Expresspay, Inc., Optimum Exchange Remit Inc., Uniteller Filipino Inc., Filremit Corp., Gemini Exchange, Global Pinoy Remittance Services, AAVA-EMPC, Bloom, Filhai Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Global Access Financial Services Inc., I-Net External Support, Inc., WCT Express Remittance Services, and Transfast.
Following the announcement of the organization's reformation, APPRISE officials were acknowledged and inducted through an oath taking ceremony led by then Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. at the BSP headquarters.
The group shared that their foremost priority as of the moment is re-building and promoting APPRISE's presence in the industry and encouraging more non-bank money transfers service providers to join the organization.
APPRISE also plans to hold regular conferences and forums starting this year to strengthen the legitimacy, quality and competency of the organization.
In the long run, APPRISE officers hope to bring tremendous impact on the growth and improvement of the whole remittance industry in the country and eventually expand their reach to other Asian countries and be the official representative of the Philippines in organizations comprised of various Asian remittance service providers.PR