MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon (PIA) — Promoting cashless transactions, the local government of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Cagayan de Oro Branch, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), launched the Paleng-QRPh Plus, January 31 at the Tankulan Public Market, here.
“I confirm that our records, the BSP records, will bear out that Manolo Fortich is the first municipality in the entire island of Mindanao to have adopted the BSP-DILG-Paleng-QRPh Plus,” said Olegario Magahin, Jr., BSP area director.
He added that the Paleng-QRPh Plus covers market vendors, sari-sari store owners, and tricab drivers who mostly do not have access to the formal banking system.
Magahin underscores that with the adoption of the Paleng-QRPh Plus, the local government has given the people an opportunity to have banking-like accounts.
“Kani atong mga transaction accounts, mura na ni og bangko. Madepositohan nimo, mapadalahan ka, makapadala ka (These transaction accounts are similar to banks. You can deposit, you can receive, and you can send money),” he said.
Magahin lauds the LGU for the initiative of adopting the program, saying that tricycle drivers, market vendors, and sari-sari store owners have been given the chance to become financially included in the economy.
The joint program between the LGU, BSP, and DILG aims to build the digital payments ecosystem in the municipality through cashless payments in public markets and local transportation—particularly tricycles.
Authored by Municipal Councilor Christy Leparto-Salabe, along with Councilors Elzevir Dagunlay and Raquel Abales-Bayacag, the town passed Ordinance No. 2024-2121, adopting the Paleng-Ph Plus program.
“Para ma-adopt nato ni nga programa, naghimo gyud kita og ordinansa nga Paleng-QRPh Plus. Nagtuo gyud mi diri nga kini nga programa dako og matabang sa atong mga negosyante. Wala na ta’y cash transactions,” stated Salabe.
(We crafted the Paleng-QRPh Plus ordinance to adopt the program. We believe that this program will greatly help our business owners. We will have cashless transactions.)
The local government believes that by promoting cashless transactions, this would also limit the spread of infectious diseases and viruses.
Salabe also said through cashless transactions, business becomes faster, and business owners would no longer be prone to scams like being transacted using counterfeit money.
She emphasized that the Paleng-QRPh Plus would ensure that each transaction is the correct and exact amount.
To ensure seamless transactions, LGU Manolo Fortich has partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for the public wifi system within the municipal hall premises. The public wifi in the public market area is provided by the local government unit (LGU).
Manolo Fortich Vice Mayor Reynaldo Bagayas, Jr., representing Mayor Rogelio Quiño, affirmed that business owners would get their money’s worth now that exact payments would always be transacted.
Bagayas asserted that the municipality is aggressively adapting to the digital age, as evidenced by its ranking among the Most Business-Friendly Municipalities in 2024 and its two consecutive awards of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).
“Gusto kita magmahimong efficient ang mga transactions dinhi sa atong stakeholders, atong mga businessmen (We want efficient transactions for our stakeholders, our businessmen),” he said, assuring the public that the LGU will ensure the safety of the digital transactions with security measures in place.
Fruit vendor Nellyn Malayan expressed her gratitude for the government program, saying it helps her avoid scams like paying with counterfeit money.
“Convenient sa amo ang kanang Paleng-QRPh Plus, dili namin mag-adto’g bangko, o magdagan-dagan kung magpasukli (The Paleng-QRPh Plus is convenient for us since we don’t have to go to the bank or run around looking for change),” stressed Malayan.
Malayan remarked that with the adoption of the technology, market vendors would no longer be scammed with counterfeit money, and it is more convenient to go to the nearest money transfer facility and cash out their earnings without charges.
BSP Area Director Magahin expressed thanks that the LGU is sharing their vision of revolutionizing the way Filipinos conduct transactions and ensuring a convenient and secure digital payment across public markets and the local transportation networks.
He remarked that this initiative is a significant step toward a cash-supplied Philippines, enhancing financial inclusion, and promoting economic growth. (SAYU/PIA-10)
