Local gov’ts urged to promote digital payment adoption

MANILA  -National government agencies and financial services firms are calling on local governments to support efforts toward greater adoption of digital modes of payments especially among micro and small businesses and their patrons to further engender a cash economy in the Philippines.

This was the message from organizers and participating companies from the first-ever Cashless Expo held in Pasay City, Nov. 17-19.

Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry and GoDigital Pilipinas Movement, the three-day bazaar was intended to convince micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to adapt to digital transactions and also motivate consumers to use of digital payments such as e-wallets, debit and credit cards, and online bank transfers through use mobile devices.

The expo was also a joint effort with the Department of Agriculture and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as well as private-sector digital payment enablers.

These include PLDT, Maya, GCash, Union Bank of the Philippines, Visa, and social media platform Tiktok, the social enterprise Hapinoy, and the technology-enabled school Thames International.

Cathlyn Pavia, assistant vice president at e-wallet platform GCash, said in a press briefing one of the more effective ways to push cashless is the BSP-backed Paleng-QR Ph plus campaign in using QR codes and cashless payments in daily purchases like transactions with market vendors and tricycle drivers.

“We support and participate in efforts to encourage local businesses to adopt cashless modes of payments, such as the Paleng-QR PH program,” Pavia said. INQ