My name is Lore, a resident of Bohol, Philippines, and a victim of online lending harassment. When I fell into financial difficulty, I believed these apps would provide a lifeline. Instead, they served as a noose, tightening around my life with unregulated lending practices, and an unforgiving debt collection process that pushed me into a deeper financial and emotional abyss. I'm not the only one. There are countless others in our community who suffer silently, driven into despair because of these illegal lending apps. These platforms operate unchecked, employing coercive collection practices, causing trauma and anxiety among their debtors. We must push back. 

Unprecedented development in the digital landscape has allowed financial services to flourish. Among them, online lending platforms have surfaced, some of them flouting regulations and exploiting users in urgent need of financial assistance. In the span of a few years, numerous cases involving online lending harassments have been reported (source: Philippine Central Bank data, 2020).

Our objective is clear: we demand the immediate cessation of these unregulated and illegal online lending platforms operating across the Philippines. We call upon our local regulators and the Philippine government to pay urgent attention and promptly take action. This includes formulating stronger and more effective regulations to hold these platforms accountable, implementing fair debt collection practices, and providing legal help to settle the debts of victims.

I share my story not for sympathy, but for change. Together, we can stop the operation of these illegal lending apps, provide relief to victims, and create a safer, more regulated digital financial environment in our community. Please, sign this petition and raise your voice against online lending harassment.