Quezon City launched the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program in a ceremony led by Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Felicito A. Valmocina, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Acting Director Mynard Bryan Mojica on 19 January at the Project 4 Public Market.

The Paleng-QR Ph Plus is a joint initiative of the BSP and DILG to promote the nationwide adoption of more convenient, safer, and faster digital payments through QR Ph.

According to Mayor Belmonte, “Dati pa, pangunahing layunin ng Lungsod Quezon ang digitalization. Naniniwala tayo (sa) pagpapadali ng proseso ng pag-transact sa Lungsod Quezon.”

Undersecretary Valmocino said, “Napatunayan na natin na ang digital payment ay epektibo sa pagpapadali ng mga transaksyon. Ito ay makatutulong sa serbisyong publiko sa mga lokal na pamahalaan.”

Meanwhile, Acting Director Mojica highlighted the aspiration of the program. He said, “Umaasa po tayo na sa pamamagitan ng Paleng-QR Ph Plus, mas marami pang Pilipino ang magkakaroon ng account at gagamit ng digital payments.” 

The launch of the Paleng-QR Ph Plus in the city is in line with the QC ordinance approved in September 2023 that enjoins public market vendors, tricycle operators and drivers, and business establishments to use digital payments in daily transactions.

The BSP pursues the Paleng-QR Ph Plus as one of the priority programs supporting the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 2022-2028 and its thrust to promote digitalization and financial inclusion in the country.