Victorias City became the first component city in Negros Occidental and second local government unit in Western Visayas to launch the Paleng-QR Ph Plus Program, a digital payments ecosystem for public markets and local transportation hubs, on Tuesday, July 11.

Bacolod, which is a highly urbanized city, was the first LGU in Western Visayas to launch the program.

Through the Paleng-QR, Victorias Commercial Center market vendors and local tricycle drivers can now opt for cashless transactions with just a scan of the official QR code, Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez said.

Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas deputy governor for regional operations, said the BSP extends its full support to the local government of Victorias in making the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program a success.

Through Paleng-QR Ph Plus Victoriahanons can now enjoy the many benefits of cashless payments, “ranging from hygiene to convenience, security, economic resilience, and inclusion,” she said.

Customers can now easily pay for goods and services by scanning QR codes using their smartphones, and vendors will no longer have to look for change, she said.

Cashless payments will also help in avoiding illnesses such as COVID-19, she said.

Paleng-QR Ph Plus will also provide vendors with a “financial footprint” that will help when they avail of bank loans, she said.

Digitalization has also accelerated the distribution of cash transfers from the government to target beneficiaries, Romulo –Puyat added.

The Victorias mayor led the launching of the Paleng-QR Ph Plus, a joint project with the BSP, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Victorias City government, at the Victorias Commercial Center.

He was joined by Romulo-Puyat, Monetary Board Member V. Bruce Tolentino, DILG VI Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero, and Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (Neg Occ., 3rd District).

“Digitalization is everyone,” Benitez said in his message, as he stressed the vital role of digital literacy and connectivity for the successful implementation of Paleng-QR Ph Plus.

He also enumerated various projects of the LGU to amplify its digitalization efforts under the Sidlak City Digital Network Assets or DNA.

Financial service providers from GCash, PayMaya, StarPay, Land Bank, BPI, and BSP also joined the ceremonial launching.

Cathlyn Pavia, GCash assistant vice president, said more than 200 of the 400 vendors at the Victorias Commercial Center market have enrolled with GCash.

GCash now has a 40 percent penetration rate and will continue to conduct their financial literacy campaign at the Victorias market, she added.

They have also started onboarding the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODA) member in Victorias, Pavia said.

There are ongoing financial literacy seminars for the market tenants and TODA drivers which are conducted by the city’s financial service providers, Benitez said.*