NAGA CITY (PIA) –- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officially rolled out the digital cashless payment called Paleng QR Plus on Feb. 10, Friday, here. This is also the first launching for South Luzon.
BSP Deputy Governor for Regional Operations and Advocacy Sector Bernadette Romulo-Puyat commended the determination of the Cityu government of Naga for the speedy passage of the local ordinance to adopt alternative online payment using QR technology.
“While there is an agreement between BSP and DILG, it is the LGU who serves as the key player in spearheading the issuance of the necessary policy in mobilizing its resources to ensure successful implementation of the program. They have open the gateways that will enable the public to enjoy the many benefits of the cashless payments,” Puyat said on her speech.
City councilors Lito Del Rosario and Joe Perez pushed for the passage of the ordinance in the Sanggunian Panglunsod in 2022 which introduced QR PH as another payment system among vendors in public market, retail stores, and public utility drivers of tricycle, trimobile and pedicab.
BSP Deputy Governor for Regional Operations and Advocacy Sector Bernadette Romulo-Puyat delivers her speech during the launching of the Paleng QR PH Plus in Naga City, February 10, 2023. Photo by Shael Santiago of PIA 5/Camarines Sur
Puyat added that this modernization will help widen the financial access of both the market and transport sectors to credit and financing from banks and formal lending institutions.
“The more they use cashless payments and make financial transaction history, they can make credit to these digital services, and use savings money for emergency and needs,” she said.
Mayor Nelson Legacion said the passage of the said ordinance affirmed the readiness of the city and the vibrancy of its local economy for more innovations to digitalized businesses. In the future, he said, the city will soon become a digitally-inclusive one in the country.
“Vendors will no longer need to look for coins as change for larger bills, nor customers look for bills to pay,” the mayor said as this digital payment provides safe, exact and efficient transactions.
Sonny Barbosa, Vice-President of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association in Naga, expressed his thankfulness to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the city government for addressing their concerns. Through this, they will now benefit from safe and smooth transactions. Photo from Shael Santiago of PIA 5/Camarines Sur
The Paleng QR PH Plus, the mayor said, took place after they saw the potential of online payment during the height of COVID-19 pandemic. The cashless online mode, he added, allowed businesses and government transactions to continue amidst mobility restrictions.
He said that this intervention will strengthen financial resiliency, safety and security from the risks and hazards brought about by disasters, climate change, pandemic and even from incidence of theft of sudden loss and counterfeit money.
Legacion added that this also provides a broad array of financial programs and services to the users that will enhance their capability to boost progress.
Moreover, Legacion said they the city will provide proper instructions to accept more registrations at the city hall in the coming days. (With reports from Raiza Mae Tapar, Shael Santiago and Kyla Sito, USI interns-PIA5/Camarines Sur)
