BOTOLAN, Zambales — The local government unit of Botolan has adopted the Paleng-QR PH Plus cashless payment program, paving the way for faster, safer and more convenient business transactions for residents.
Mayor Jun Omar Ebdane, along with representatives of national government agencies, financial institutions, and local partners unveiled the program on April 29 by making test purchases at the Botolan People’s Market, gasoline stations, and with tricycle drivers.
“We have here at last the cashless payment system that is safe and very convenient,” Ebdane enthused during the launch. “Residents won’t have to bring a lot of money anymore to buy things because with just one scan, the transaction is already paid for!”
“This initiative only proves that Botolan is ready for modernization and digital transformation,” he added.
The Paleng-QR PH Plus, which was introduced by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in 2022, enables customers to pay through QR Ph codes, using mobile apps from partner banks or e-wallets.
The program reduces the need for physical cash, enables payment of exact amounts, and eliminates the risk of receiving counterfeit bills. The program also allowed small vendors and tricycle drivers to enter the digital financial ecosystem.
As of March this year, more than 1,120 LGUs in 45 provinces, as well as Metro Manila, have adopted the system.
For the Botolan launch, the BSP and DILG, in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Information and Communication Technology, partnered with the Botolan People’s Market Vendors Association and the Botolan Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association.
The initiative kicked into gear with the participation of financial partners like GCash, Maya, China Bank Corp., Zambales Rural Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines, Producers Bank, Philippine National Bank, and the Social Security System.
Botolan was the third municipality of Zambales to adopt the Paleng-QR program. The first was San Marcelino in July 2024, followed by Cabangan in October last year.