Global mobile payment providers Google Pay and Apple Pay are entering the Philippine market, with nine banking and fintech players already offering Google Pay as a mode of payment, while Apple Pay is eyed for launch in 2026.

Fintech Alliance PH founding chairman Lito Villanueva told reporters during the launch of Google Pay that the financial system could be ready for Apple Pay’s launch next year but noted that there is still no exact date.

“Hopefully next year, but we don’t have any available date yet. The good thing is that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) gave the green light for both entities to operate in the Philippines,” Villanueva said on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

He explained that Google Pay was the first to launch in the Philippines since 80 percent of Filipinos use Android devices.

“We are looking forward to having [Apple Pay’s] rollout, hopefully soon, next year. To an early rollout,” Villanueva said.

Poojyata Khattar, Visa Southeast Asia head of product and solutions, said Google Pay’s launch is imminent, as it is in other markets.

“We either start with one, and the other follows. The goal is for every consumer—not limited to a specific device—to have the ability to tap and pay. We started with Google because Android is widely used in the Philippines. But it’s almost certain that other players, including Apple, will follow soon, and quite quickly,” Khattar told reporters.

Visa cardholders in the Philippines can now link their debit or credit cards to Google Wallet and make payments through Google Pay.

Based on other countries’ experience, more partners will gradually join after onboarding nine banking players with the initial rollout of Google Pay, Visa Philippines country manager Jeffrey Navarro told reporters

As such, most banks, non-banks, and fintechs are expected to be onboard by the end of next year. Navarro said the ecosystem includes not just banks and fintechs, but also non-bank players, aiming to make smartphones a one-stop digital hub for IDs, rewards, and transit payments.

Visa’s seven partner issuers that now offer this service include Chinabank, EastWest Bank, GoTyme Bank, Maya Bank, RCBC, UnionBank, and Wise.

Visa competitor Mastercard, GCash, and other fintechs such as Zed, PesoPay, and PayerMax also offer this service. Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Beep, 2C2P, PayMongo, and PayRex are expected to activate the service “soon.”

Google Pay can be used to transact with Shopee, Mang Inasal, Philippine Airlines (PAL), Singapore Airlines, IKEA Family, and others.

Visa has already piloted tap payments in 145 7-Eleven stores across the Philippines to test the system and address any issues, with plans to expand by the end of December and cover most locations in the first quarter.

Meanwhile, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda said the government is working closely with telcos on solutions that will remove one-time password (OTP) charges and eventually phase out the need for paid OTPs in digital transactions.

“One of the things we should do is eliminate the cost of OTPs. I’m coordinating with all three telcos, and they will come up with solutions so that OTPs are no longer needed—or, rather, you won’t have to pay for them,” Aguda said.

By July 2026, all BSP-supervised financial institutions (BSFIs) must implement OTP-less systems, as OTPs, Villanueva said, have been a major source of cyber fraud.