BSP, DILG, GCash expand Paleng-QR Ph in Naga City

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) continue to expand their Paleng-QR Ph initiative as they roll out the program in South Luzon, piloting in Naga City, in partnership with the country’s leading e-wallet, GCash.

With the launch, vendors, and tricycle drivers in the Naga City People’s Market can now easily transact with their customers and passengers using QR payment.

“Through this partnership, the merchants of the Naga City People’s Market and the rest of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Naga City are encouraged to display their GCash QR code at their stores with the statement ‘We accept GCash here’. This way, we are empowering our small vendors to adopt cashless transactions in our efforts to boost digitalization in how they do business towards financial inclusion,” said Martha Sazon, chief executive officer of GCash.

In total, there over 500 public market stalls and 535 vendors in the city who can accept GCash transactions. In addition, GCash has also onboarded 411 vendors in the city as GCash Pera Outlet (PO) partners. This feature on the app allows small merchants to earn extra income and grow their businesses by offering customers in the community convenient access to various GCash services such as Cash-in, Cash-out, Pay Bills, and Claim Padala.

To further promote cashless transactions in the market, GCash is also introducing its GTreats promo wherein customers can get a whole bundle of market products for only P30 when they pay with GCash.

“Our small merchants and consumers can now enjoy not only a safe and hassle-free payment experience for their everyday transactions, but also easy access to convenient financial services and products. We look forward to more strategic collaborations with GCash to enable more Filipinos to thrive in the new normal.” Naga City Mayor Nelson S. Legacion said.

To further promote digital payment adoption nationwide, the BSP and DILG has now on-boarded more vendors and tricycle drivers for the Paleng-QR initiative in various public markets nationwide including the Baguio City Public Market, Bangkerohan Public Market in Davao City, Dao Public Market in Tagbilaran City, Pasig City Mega Market, Antipolo Market and Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (AMTODA), and Lapu-Lapu Public Market, all of which now accept GCash cashless payments using QR codes.

Recently, GCash also partnered with the City Government of San Fernando, Pampanga, to enable digital payments and educate its employees and constituents on the features and benefits of using e-wallets such as GCash.

On top of digitalizing public markets across the country, GCash continues to democratize financial services by making them easy to access, easy to afford, and easy to understand, especially for the unbanked and under-served communities amid the new normal, and beyond.