PLDT’s wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) joined hands with Maya, the country's leading all-in-one digital bank and money app, in supporting the roll-out of Paleng-QR Ph Plus in Tagbilaran City. The event was led by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the City Government of Tagbilaran in Bohol province.

“We at Smart are one with Maya, the BSP, the DILG, and LGU Tagbilaran City in strengthening the country’s digital payment ecosystem. Additionally, we will continue to provide our services to support the Tagbilaran City LGU in its digitalization efforts,” said Alexis Winters, Assistant Vice President for Regional Customer Development for Visayas and Mindanao at Smart.

Spearheaded by the BSP and the DILG, the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program encourages cashless transactions in public markets and local transportation to support the national government’s thrust for digital payments adoption in the country. Tagbilaran City is the first local government to implement this program in the Visayas and the initiative will greatly contribute to the city's digitalization efforts.

To support the program, Maya equipped Tagbilaran City Central Public Market vendors and tricycle drivers to set up their own Maya accounts and QR Ph codes. This initiative is reinforced by Smart's fast and reliable connectivity, which enables merchants and customers to transact seamlessly using Maya.

In the photo are BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap, center, joined by Smart and Maya representatives.