The city government of Davao and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-Davao (BSP-Davao) are strengthening digital payments in Davao City by launching the Paleng-QR Ph program in Bankerohan Public Market on Wednesday.
The Paleng-QR Ph program, jointly developed by the BSP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), aims to build the digital payments ecosystem in the country by promoting cashless payments in public markets and local transportation, particularly tricycles.
The 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.
Zarinah Aligsao, Bank Officer V and Regional Economic Affairs staff of BSP-Mindanao Regional Office, said the program enjoins all establishments and transport to use a QR code as a means of payment.
“Dili ni siya murag muilis derecho na dili na mudawat ug the usual coins but naa siya options “scan to pay”. Kung ma-remember ninyo katong nag start ang pandemic medyo nag take up ang use of digital payments so for sustainability gi introduce through a partnership with the DILG in Mindanao and Davao would be the first na mag launch sa program, mu-adopt ug mu-implement,” Aligsao said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.
Among the benefits that consumers will get from using Paleng-QR include: it will no longer be difficult to assess counterfeit money and prevent the risk of transmission of Covid from passing cash to another.
“This is a way to reinforce or augment the existing ways of payment. Another thing na benefit is for the merchants. Aside from mag expand ang ilahang potential consumers and also for health reasons kay kabalo ta hangtod karon naa lang gihapon ang Covid,” she said.
Under the said program market vendors, tricycles, and other such merchants are mandated to use QR Ph digital payment. Merchants are also mandated to display the QR code.
It is also among the components of the program to assist the LGU in the onboarding of market vendors and tricycle drivers to a QR Ph-ready transaction account, in coordination with any or all financial service providers (FSPs) such as Gcash, Maya, and Starpay- that already have QR Ph capabilities.
Aligsao said the main activity on the 23rd will be account onboarding and booths will be set up for those who want to open accounts on various FSPs.
“All six FSPs naa didto, puwede ka mag open ug account, na apud na silay’s pakulo, naa sila freebies ihatag, bibo gyud ang Bankerohan karong 23. Dili lang ni siya para sa mga vendors, tanan is invited to go to Bankerohan Public Market,” she said.
Aligsao said that it is not just a one-time event because the city and BSP are planning to make it a continued activity and replicate it in other public markets in Davao City.
“Perhaps the next one is in Toril Public Market or Agdao Public Market. Davao City has eight public markets and there is a plan to do onboarding activities in all those areas,” she said.
