15 Mindanao LGUs roll out Paleng-QR Ph project
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 22 December) – Fifteen local government units in Mindanao have rolled out the Paleng-QR Ph project, the latest of which was in Upi, Maguindanao del Norte, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) show.
The Paleng-QR Ph is a program jointly developed by the BSP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that aims to build the digital payments ecosystem in the country by promoting cashless payments in public markets and local transportation, particularly tricycles.
Last December 12, the Paleng-QR Ph was launched in Upi town, with 500 market vendors and 100 tricycle drivers targeted to adopt the digital payment system.
Upi town is the third LGU to launch the cashless transaction project in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, after Parang and Cotabato City.
Jonathan Mantikayan, executive director of the Bangsamoro Information and Communication Technology Office (BICTO), said the BARMM government backs the technology-driven Paleng-QR Ph project.
“In a world where digital transactions are becoming the norm, this initiative ensures that our people, especially those in far-flung and underserved communities, are not left behind,” he was quoted as saying by the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO).
Upi Mayor Ma. Rona Cristina Piang-Flores said they adopted the Paleng-QR Ph project to further improve public service delivery and enhance economic activity.
“We didn’t hesitate to support the program because we also saw its beauty. This will help ensure that every citizen gains access to what we call ease of doing business,” she said.
Dr. Gregorio Baccay III, BSP Cotabato Branch acting area director, described the Paleng-QR Ph system as a “game changer that makes daily transactions convenient, safer, and cost-effective.
“No expensive equipment is needed; market vendors and drivers only need to display their QR Ph code so customers can scan it and make payments,” he said.
Israfil Pasawiran, a tricycle driver for 10 years, lauded the LGU for introducing digital payments in the municipality.
“I’m thankful that we were included in this program. Although using QR codes is new to us, it’s a good opportunity to learn and adapt to modern payment methods,” Israfil said.
The other localities in Mindanao that launched or adopted the Paleng-QR Ph are the cities of Butuan in Agusan del Norte, Valencia and Malaybalay in Bukidnon, Kidapawan in North Cotabato, Iligan in Lanao del Norte, Ozamis in Misamis Occidental, General Santos in South Cotabato and Zamboanga in Zamboanga del Sur.
For the municipalities, these are Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon, Opol in Misamis Oriental and Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay.
According to a BSP briefer, the Paleng-QR Ph program highlights the significance of market purchases and local transportation fares as basic components of an average Filipino’s typical payment pattern.
“Until a market vendor and tricycle driver can accept digital payments, transitioning to cashless transactions would be difficult for an average Filipino consumer,” it said.
The program was inspired by the student policy competition finalists from the University of the Philippines–Los Baños in the 2021 BSP Youth Summit.
In November 2022, the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program branding was introduced in a bid to expand the digital payment system outside of market vendors and tricycle drivers.
To date, at least 858 LGUs across the country have issued policies supporting or have launched the Paleng-QR Ph, BSP data showed. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)
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