Bongbong Marcos backs the use of e-wallets, other apps for digital payments

File photo of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has expressed his support for the implementation of the Paleng-QR Ph Plus Initiative and wants government agencies to educate Filipinos on the use of e-wallet and other digital payment apps.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Friday said Marcos talked about his view during a meeting in Malacañang with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure Cluster on Thursday.

PSAC Member Ernest Cu, President and CEO of Globe Telecom, told the President that the use of quick response (QR) codes and other digital payment apps is like a “home run” for the government, saying that they are excited to start serving the public markets using QR codes.

“We have to do it. It’s a grassroots level approach. There are also videos on YouTube and we also have Tiktok to get people to educate themselves. And if you use the app regularly, you will see it being offered to you on the app,” Cu said, as quoted by the PCO.

The Paleng QR Ph Plus program, which is jointly developed by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, aims to build the digital payments ecosystem in the country by promoting cashless QR payments in public markets and local transportation, particularly tricycles.

PCO said e-commerce platforms, including BSP, have teams going around the country conducting information and education campaigns on Paleng-QR Ph Plus, which was launched in 2022, in different cities and local government units (LGUs).

PSAC members said the adoption of QR codes and use of digital payment apps will make savings and loan applications in banks a lot easier for the public, especially the farmers, fisherfolks and small businesses.

Government can also eliminate the 5-6 lending and similar money lending businesses, thus making the cost of running micro, small, and medium enterprises go down.

PSAC made new recommendations for the President’s approval.

Among the new recommendations are the adoption of the National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028 and the Connectivity Index Rating System.

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