No cash? No problem. Whether you’re buying bagoong in the palengke or hopping on a tricycle to your next pitch meeting, paying with your phone just got easier.
The government is scaling up Paleng-QR Ph, a nationwide program that lets Filipinos pay using digital wallets at public markets and local transport, including tricycles and jeepneys.
Spearheaded by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the initiative now covers 180 local government units (LGUs) across Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila.
That means more sari-sari stores, market stalls, and local rides are now accepting QR Ph, the country’s interoperable QR code standard for digital payments.
“Ang layunin ng Pangulo ay gawing mas ligtas at madali ang pagbabayad ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino—at ito ang isinusuong ng Paleng-QR Ph. Cashless ang kinabukasan ng lokal na ekonomiya (The President’s aim is to make payments safer and more convenient for every Filipino citizen—and this is put forward by Paleng QR Ph. The future of local economy is cashless),” said Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, underscoring how the initiative aligns with the Marcos administration’s digital transformation agenda.
For young entrepreneurs looking to launch micro ventures or tap grassroots markets, this shift to digital is more than just convenience—it’s infrastructure.
“Sa tulong ng DILG at BSP, mas marami pang LGU ang matuturuan at maihahanda sa pag-shift sa cashless system. Hindi lamang ito usapin ng convenience—ito ay usapin ng inclusivity at pag-unlad (With the help of DILG and BSP, more LGUs will be taught at readied for the shift to a cashless system. This is not only a matter of convenience—it is also an issue of inclusivity and growth),” Castro added.
The goal? A digitally empowered local economy where everyone—vendors, commuters, and consumers—can transact safely, efficiently, and transparently.
First launched in 2022, Paleng-QR Ph is more than just fintech—it’s a platform for financial inclusion. It gives small-scale merchants and transport operators a way into the formal financial system, potentially unlocking access to credit, savings, and other services.
And with Gen Z leading the way in digital adoption, the future of the palengke might just be your next big business partner.
