Mobile wallet GCash has partnered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the local government of Tagbilaran City for this week's rollout of the Paleng-QR Ph program.
The Paleng-QR Ph program of the BSP and DILG seeks to build the country's digital payments ecosystem by promoting cashless QR payments in public markets and local transportation, particularly tricycles.
In Bohol, GCash has already onboarded a total of 5 public markets, 133 market vendors in Dao, and 155 TODAs, Dazon announced.
At present, GCash users number over 71 million nationwide.They can cash in and cash out in 138 active GCash Pera Outlets.
"We are empowering our small vendors to adopt cashless transactions in our efforts to boost digitalization in how they do business,” said Martha Sazon, chief executive officer of GCash, during Tuesday"s (Jan. 10) launch of the Paleng-QR Ph in Tagbilaran.
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Under the program, GCash merchants at the Dao Public Market and the rest of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Tagbilaran City displayed their GCash QR code at their stores with the statement "We accept GCash here".
The Paleng-QR Ph program was launched in June, 2022 so LGUs can promote the acceptance of digital payments among market vendors, community shopkeepers, and tricycle operators and drivers (TODA) in all cities and municipalities in the country.
To date, all deployed GCash QR codes are operational and widely used by locals and tourists.
GCash to GCash transactions continue to remain free of charge ensuring convenience to its patrons.
Filipinos will adopt cashless transactions more readily if they are introduced in a natural place where they usually spend their money – the wet markets or “palengkes”, Sazon reasoned.
The program is an important breakthrough in Bohol's financial inclusion efforts, Tagbilaran, City Mayor Jane Yap acknowledged.
By using the GCash app, merchants can receive and transfer money with just a few taps on their smartphone, saving them time and effort.
In the same way, it is also convenient for customers who use digital and cashless payment.