Pangasinan City Embraces Digital Payments Program

The City of Alaminos in Pangasinan has joined the growing list of local government units (LGUs) adopting the “Paleng-QR Ph Plus” program, aimed at promoting digital payments in public markets, public utility vehicles (PUVs), and business establishments.

Mayor Arth Bryan C. Celeste and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) North Luzon Regional Office (NLRO) Regional Director Noel Neil Q. Malimban led the program’s launch at the city’s SUKI Market recently. I Photo: Bryan Celeste Facebook

Mayor Arth Bryan C. Celeste and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) North Luzon Regional Office (NLRO) Regional Director Noel Neil Q. Malimban led the program’s launch at the city’s SUKI Market recently.

A collaborative initiative between the BSP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the program encourages the use of Quick Response (QR) Ph, the national standard for QR code technology providing a safe, convenient, and efficient way of making and receiving payments for merchants and customers.

BSP NLRO Regional Director Malimban welcomed the collaborative undertaking, emphasizing that it allows the citizens of Alaminos to further enjoy digitalization. Nearly 700 market vendors and over 3,600 tricycle drivers have already joined the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program in the city.

With the issuance of an ordinance encouraging digital payments, more vendors and PUV drivers in Alaminos are expected to join the program.

The nationwide program aligns with the BSP’s goal to convert half of the total volume of retail payments in the country into digital form and onboard 70 percent of Filipinos to the formal financial system by this year under the BSP’s Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap 2020-2023.

Paleng-QR Ph Plus is a priority program under the BSP’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) 2022-2028, serving as a guiding framework for all stakeholders working together to accelerate financial inclusion in the country.

In addition to the program launch, the BSP Dagupan Branch offered currency exchange services in the public market, encouraging the public to replace unfit banknotes and coins with digital cash.

The “BSP Piso Caravan” currency exchange program aligns with the central bank’s commitment to preserve the integrity of Philippine currency and promote digital payments for financial inclusion.

Unfit banknotes include those that are dirty, soiled, limp, stained, or have faded print and obvious writings. Unfit coins include those with corrosion or markings.

For more information on the Piso Caravan and other public information campaigns in North Luzon, contact the BSP NLRO at reas-nlro@bsp.gov.ph. For more details on the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program, visit here.

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