More Filipinos can now go to public markets and ride public transportation without needing to pay in cash.
The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expanded the use of cashless payments in public markets and local transportation through the Paleng-QR Ph program, which utilizes digital devices such as cellphone apps for transactions, according to Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, as reported on Friday.
About 180 local government units (LGUs) across the country are now officially onboarded under the Paleng-QR Ph program, a significant milestone in the administration’s push for digital transformation.
The Paleng-QR Ph Programa is a joint initiative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) that promotes the use of cashless payments in public markets and local transportation.
“Ang layunin ng Pangulo ay gawing mas ligtas at madali ang pagbabayad ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino—at ito ang isinusuong ng Paleng-QR Ph. Cashless ang kinabukasan ng lokal na ekonomiya,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.
The program enables consumers to use QR Ph, the country’s standard for interoperable digital payments, to pay at sari-sari stores, market stalls, and even tricycles, providing a convenient and secure alternative to cash.
Of the 180 LGUs currently participating in the program, 127 are in Luzon, 33 in the Visayas, 15 in Mindanao, and 5 in the National Capital Region (NCR). These LGUs have either launched the program locally or issued enabling policies to support its implementation.
To encourage broader adoption, Castro said the DILG, in coordination with BSP, continues to offer technical assistance to LGUs, including support for digital account onboarding, merchant integration, and financial literacy.
“Sa tulong ng DILG at BSP, mas marami pang LGU ang matuturuan at maihahanda sa pag-shift sa cashless system. Hindi lamang ito usapin ng convenience—ito ay usapin ng inclusivity at pag-unlad,” Castro said.
Launched in 2022, the Paleng-QR Ph Program highlights the government’s vision for a digitally empowered grassroots economy, where everyday transactions—from market purchases to local transport fares—are modernized through financial technology.
The initiative not only reduces reliance on physical cash—especially relevant amid public health concerns—but also opens new opportunities for vendors and drivers to access loans, savings, and other digital services through formal financial institutions. | PND
