“The city government of Tagbilaran acknowledges that it is in the best interest of the public to adopt the Paleng-QR PH program through the efforts of the BSP and the DILG in the hopes of driving financial inclusion and digitalization of payment,” Councilor Charles Cabalit.
“Paleng-QR PH introduced us to one of the leading financial providers, GCash. We also encourage all financial service providers to participate in the program.”
Cabalit was a speaker at the recent GCash One With the Nation Forum in Cebu which carried the theme “Innovations and inclusion: The future of digital financial services”. It was attended by BSP, DILG, and LGU representatives.
To ensure the program’s effective implementation, he said the LGU has reached out to all local stakeholders and made sure that there is reliable internet and data connectivity in the city, particularly in public markets and tricycle terminals.
Cabalit has sponsored the passage of ordinance C-339, which enjoins all business establishments and local transportation in Tagbilaran City to adopt QRPH digital payment in line with the Paleng-QR PH program.
“As soon as the Paleng-QR PH program is launched in our locality, we can say we are stepping ahead and we are getting closer to our dream of transforming Tagbilaran City into a digital city,” he concluded.
During the event, Visayan LGUs also pledged their commitment to the program before BSP Head of Regional Economic Affairs Staff Gregg Bacay. The LGUs are expected to help the BSP achieve its objective of getting 70% of Filipino adults to have formal accounts.
Meanwhile, DILG Assistant Director Alfonso Maralle, Jr. pointed out that initiatives like Paleng-QR PH become more effective when the government works with the private sector.
“We would like to express our appreciation to GCash for making the DILG part of this event which promotes and advocates financial inclusion for Filipinos. Hindi po kaya ng government lang. We have proven many times that public-private sector collaboration moves us forward toward this endeavor. There are so many remarkable things we can achieve when we all come together with the private sector and other stakeholders,” he stressed.
Even before Paleng-QR PH, GCash has been helping vendors and drivers with its various services. Egg vendor Junar Cabuenas and tricycle driver Rotchel Kuyoka, both from Lapu-Lapu City, are among those who benefitted from GCash.
“In the past, I always give the wrong change but when I started using GCash, now it’s a lot better. GCash is very useful to me. Like when someone places an order, they just pay me through GCash so it’s not too much of a hassle. It’s so easy,” said Cabuenas.
GCash hosted the regional expansion of One With the Nation for the first time to explore how the private and public sectors in VisMin can work together to foster economic growth through digital ecosystem development, especially in a post-COVID landscape. (PR)
