Cotabato City is now part of the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program that promotes digital payments through quick response (QR) codes in markets, and public transport hubs.
The program launch was led by Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali “Bruce” D. Matabalao, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Mindanao Regional Office (MRO) Director Judith G. Dolot, and Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) City Director Muhammad Farzieh B. Abutazil on 15 November 2023 at the City Arcade, SK Pendatun Avenue.
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr., in a recorded message, welcomed Cotabato City to the roster of local governments participating in the program. He said, “We look forward to another successful rollout of the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program as it empowers your community and eventually the whole nation.”
Paleng-QR Ph Plus is a joint program of the BSP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that promotes QR technology as a convenient, safe and efficient payment system.
Financial service providers support the launch by assisting vendors and public transport drivers open their accounts, print their QR codes and attend to customer service needs.
Cotabato is the first city in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the thirteenth local government unit (LGU) to launch Paleng-QR Ph Plus in its markets and transport hubs. The other LGUs are Baguio, Davao, Tagbilaran, Naga, Lapu-Lapu, Pasig, Carmona, Bacolod, Camiling, Victorias, Mandaue, and Ozamiz.
Along with the launch of Paleng-QR Ph Plus, the BSP conducted its “Piso Caravan” at the City Arcade to enable Cotabateños and Bangsamoro residents to redeem their unfit and mutilated banknotes and coins with digital cash or e-money.
The Piso Caravan is part of the BSP’s program to maintain the Philippine currency’s integrity and to strengthen coin recirculation in the country.
