Davao City to launch PalengQR PH

November 21, 2022

The City Government of Davao, in partnership with Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, is set to launch the PalengQR PH on November 23, 2022.

PalengQR Ph is a program that aims to enjoin establishments to use cashless payment or QR codes as an additional option for buyers to pay for goods, said BSP Bank Officer IV and Regional Economic Affairs Staff, Mindanao Regional Office Ms. Zarinah S. Aligsao over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday.

“Under the PalengQR Ph enjoined ang atoang merchants nga mag-display sa ilahang QR nga ang nakabutang “We accept Gcash here”. Kung ikaw nga mamalit makita na nimo, pwede ka magbayad sa GCash (Under the PalengQr PH our merchants are enjoined to display their QR code with the statement “We accept Gcash here. If you are the buyer, you will immediately see that you can pay through Gcash),” Aligsao said.

She added that on November 23, the day of the official launching, there will be “onboarding” or registration of merchants and stakeholders to financial service providers – banks, and electronic money issuers.

Booths of Landbank, Asia United Bank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), and electronic money issuers Gcash, PayMaya, and StarPay will be established for those who do not have accounts yet.

“Mag-set up sila didto ug booths sa Bankerohan, kung wala kay account sa mga na-mention nako nga FSPs pwede ka didto magbuhat og account pwede ka didto maghimo og account (They will set up booths in Bankerohan and those who did not have an account yet with the FSPs mentioned can create their accounts there),” she said, adding that the printing and lamination of QR codes will also be taken care of at the booths.

The onboarding will not be limited to one public market alone as it is eyed to be conducted in other public markets in Davao City.

“Davao City will be the first city in Mindanao to adopt and implement this program,” Aligsao said.

The portion of Marfori Street, from the corner of Pichon Street up to Datu Bago Street, will be closed starting midnight of November 21, 2022 until November 23 for the PalengQR- PH Program.

The City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) on November 18, 2022 said the closure is backed by City Ordinance No. 091-22, Series of 2022. This is to pave way for the construction of tents and booths for the financial service providers, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the City Government of Davao for the PalengQR PH Launch.

Aligsao said that the program is a win-win for both merchants and consumers because with this program, merchants will no longer have a hard time producing change, and for the consumer, it will also reduce the risk of receiving torn bills. With the presence of COVID-19 in our community, the cashless payment scheme also helps reduce the risk of virus transmission.

She also added that the new digital cashless payment helps in expanding the potential customers that use digital and cashless payment.

The launch of the event will be attended by Deputy Governor, Regional Operations and Advocacy Sector of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Ms. Bernadette T. Romulo-Puyat, Regional Director Department of Interior and Local Government XI- Mr. Alex C Roldan, CESO V, Chairman of the Monetary Board and Governor Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas- Dr. Felipe M. Medalla, Sangguniang Panlungsod Chairperson, Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry and city officials.