For residents of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental curious about owning a small part of a Philippine company, getting started could take just a phone, a fully verified GCash account, and as little as P500.
GCash said its GStocks PH service allows users to open a stock trading account, add funds, and place orders through the app, without needing a bank account or visiting a separate brokerage office.
Buying a share means owning a small portion of a company.
Through GStocks PH, users can choose from more than 280 companies listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).
The service connects users to AB Capital Securities Inc., the broker that handles their trading account.
To register, users can select GStocks PH on the GCash homepage or Invest tab, choose AB Capital Securities Inc., and complete the broker’s application process.
GCash said the registration process offers real-time approval. Once registered, users can transfer money to their trading wallet in real time without transfer fees.
For someone trying stock investing for the first time, the trading wallet holds the money used to buy shares.
Funding the wallet and buying a stock are separate steps.
Users then choose a company and place a buy order. While orders can be submitted in real time, purchases are completed during trading hours and depend on a matching sell order.
This means tapping “buy” does not automatically mean the shares have already been purchased.
The service comes as more Filipinos open stock market accounts through digital platforms.
According to PSE figures cited in the release, local stock market accounts increased by 27.3 percent to 3.64 million in 2025, from 2.86 million in 2024. Online accounts reached 3.22 million, growing by 30.5 percent year-on-year.
For prospective investors in Bacolod and Negros Occidental, the simpler process offers a way to explore investing without a large starting amount.
However, easier access does not remove the risk of losing money.
GCash reminded users that investment values and income can rise or fall, and investors may not recover the full amount they put in.
Interested individuals considering their first purchase should understand the company they are buying into and consider their finances, goals, and ability to absorb losses.*
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