MANOLO FORTICH OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES PALENG-QR PH PLUS

Cashless Payments via Financial Service Providers

The Paleng-QR Ph Plus program, which encourages cashless payments in public markets and public transportation, was formally launched by the Local Government Unit of Manolo Fortich on January 31, 2025, at Tankulan Public Market. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), in collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), initiated the program to promote the widespread use of QR codes in the Philippines.

Among the financial service providers in attendance were Gcash, Maya, Landbank, BanKo—a subsidiary of the Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI)—and Palawan Pay, all of which partnered with the BSP for the implementation of Paleng-QR Ph Plus. BSP Director Oligario Magahin Jr. of Cagayan de Oro City congratulated Manolo Fortich on its success in implementing the program. “I would like to congratulate Manolo Fortich, I confirm that in the BSP records, Manolo Fortich is the first municipality in the entire island of Mindanao to have adopted Paleng-QR Ph Plus. Ga-cover ni siya sa atong mga market vendors, sari-sari store owners, at tricab drivers, who most of the time sila gyuy walay access sa mga banking system. Sa pag-adopt nato aning Paleng-QR Ph Plus natagaan sila og higayon nga magkaroon sila ng account, mga transaction accounts.”, Oligario stated.

Michael Colim, a habal-habal driver from Barangay Tankulan, fully supports the PalengQR Ph Plus program as it can make payments more efficient and accurate. “Sa dugay nga panahon nga namasahero ko usahay tagaan mi og usa ka libo, og walay sukli, walay pliti, so alkanse ang motorista. Naay panahon nga nag-hatod ko sa [Barangay] Dahilayan, gi-pletehan kog 500 [pesos] - peke. So nagpasalamat ko ug nag suporta ang among organization aning PalengQR para sa safety, wa nay sukli ug wanay hasol nga pagbayad.”, stated Colim.

Present at the event were Acting Mayor Reynaldo L. BagayasJr., along with Sangguniang Bayan Members Coun. Joy Cordovez, Coun. Rina Quiño, Coun. Raquel Abales, and Coun. Elzevir Dagunlay; ABC President Maryjane Guilayan; Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Princess CJ Padin; and Committee Chair on Trade, Commerce, and Cooperative SB Member Coun. Christy “Tata” Leparto, who presented the ordinance legally implementing the PalengQR Ph Plus Program in Manolo Fortich.

Personnel from the Management Information Systems Office (MISO), together with other LGU departments, facilitated the event to ensure a smooth launch.

Adapting to change is crucial for development. As we progress as a municipality, embracing modernity—including the use of QR codes for payments in public transactions—is essential. This method is efficient and safe, especially for sari-sari store owners, market sellers, TODA (Tricycle Operators & Drivers Association, Inc.), and consumers.